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Lips MAC

MAC x Nicki Minaj Collection Review + Swatches

September 26, 2017

The MAC x Nicki Minaj collection just launched which includes an entire collection of nude lipsticks and glosses. It’s literally a nude lip lover’s dream come true. There are two special edition nudes that were created by Nicki Minaj that come in gorgeous pink packaging along with eighteen other lipsticks and six lipglasses (some repromotes, some are new). I’m one of the biggest fans for nude lips but since I have olive skin and a naturally pigmented lip undertone finding one that works is super tricky. I’ve found over the years the trick with a lot of nude lip shades is that layering with pencils and gloss is key. Luckily brands have expanded their range of neutrals so I’ve actually found quite a few that don’t require extra work.

I bought the entire MAC x Nicki Minaj collection online since MAC select members had early access. The same day my order arrived a beautiful press package arrived so I ended up with two of everything. I’m passing along the duplicates I ordered to a few friends and my niece, but stay tuned I’ll be doing a giveaway on another post later this week. Many of these shades are on the lighter side and a lot look very similar on me (like super pale concealer). Also because I have a pigmented lip my natural lip shows through on many of the swatches which looks like it could be a dark lipliner but I assure you it’s not. It’s just my natural lip tone showing through.

What I have reviewed and swatched for this collection:

MAC x Nicki Minaj Lipstick The Pink Print
MAC x Nicki Minaj Lipstick Nicki’s Nude
Lipglass in: Under the Sheets, N-U-D-E, Please Me
Lipsticks in: Gossamer Wing, 2N, Bare Bling, Creme d’Nude, The Right Note, Derriere, Japanese Maple, Stripped, A Girl’s Got Needs, Easy Babe, Age Sex Location, Among the Fireflies, Playing Koi, Bosom Friend, Pretty Please, Baby’s All Right, Patisserie, Mmmmmmm

Up first are the MACxNicki Minaj Lipstick colors in The Pink Print and Nicki’s Nude. Both have an amazing smooth opaque formula that covers the lip in one swipe. The Pink Print is a pale opaque pink peach however it’s on the soft side and the lipstick broke in the tube. To continue using it I’m most likely going to have to put it into a pot. A quick look at other reviews shows that I’m not the only one with the issue of breakage. Just something to keep in mind when applying – apply if very gently. Nicki’s Nude is a deeper baby peach. This one isn’t quite as soft for me but still smooth and soft.

Next are the MAC x Nicki Minaj nude lipsticks which I’ve split into two groups (based on order they were displayed in the box). Shown below include:

Gossamer Wing a pale soft shimmer pale beige
2N light cream colored nude
Bare Bling light beige tan cream
Creme d’Nude peachy cream nude
The Right Note light-medium tan
Derriere muted medium brown
Japanese Maple pink peach sheer
Stripped medium tan nude
A Girl’s Got Needs medium tan brown
The Pink Print and Nicki’s Nude added in the swatch below

Foundation worn is Tom Ford Waterproof Foundation in Natural (my MAC Studio Fix Fluid equivalent is NC35/37, these shades are also swatched here). As mentioned above all the lip swatches are on bare lips. There may be a visible dark ring around the edges as that is my natural lip showing through. All lip swatches done on bare lips.

Next set of nude lipstick colors include the following:

Easy Babe is a cafe latte brown
Age Sex Location is a slightly deeper brown neutral
Among the Fireflies is a mauve pink brown
Playing Koi is a pale warm pink (on me it’s like light concealer)
Bosom Friend is a pale cool pink
Pretty Please is a sheer lustre pink with a tiny bit of shimmer
Baby’s All Right is a muted cool mauve pink
Patisserie is a sheer glossy pink
Mmmmmmm is a deeper mauve pink rose

MAC x Nicki Minaj Lipglasses shown below in:

Under the Sheets is a sheer sparkly pale pink
N-U-D-E is a soft peachy pink shimmer (reminds me of Love Nectar)
Please Me is a pale pink cream, alone it’s a bit on the streaky side
Beaux (swatched/reviewed here) is a soft brown tan shimmer
Spite (swatched/reviewed here) is a cool toned neutral pink-brown-taupe
Spice (swatched/reviewed here) is a warm tan pink

I didn’t swatch any of the lip liners repromoted with this collection but in case you’re looking for a nude. I swatched quite a few side by side from various brands in my Neutral Lip Pencil post here.

Bottom line, even though many of these colors are hard for me to wear alone, I still think this launch is a nude lip lover’s dream. If you search for swatches of these online you’ll see many of the colors that look like concealer on me look quite different on those with lighter skin or lip tones. Playing Koi for example actually looks more true to tube on some while on me it’s just a washed out mess.

My favorites include: The Right Note, Japanese Maple, Stripped, A Girl’s Got Needs, Age/Sex/Location, Among the Fireflies, Patisserie and MMMMMM. I think Patisserie is the most natural looking neutral on my complexion and I think it would most likely be one of the more universal shades in the bunch. For the lipglasses nothing would have stopped me from buying Under the Sheets and NUDE however I do think they are similar to existing shades.

What’s your favorite nude lip right now? I know everyone has a different definition of nude so I’d be interested to hear what yours is!

You can find the MAC x Nicki Minaj collection out now, I usually buy mine at MAC and Nordstrom.

MAC x Nicki Minaj collection provided by MAC for review. Items also purchased by me.

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L'Occitane Skincare

Glowing Skin with the L’Occitane Divine Collection

September 21, 2017

I’ve been a long-time fan of the L’Occitane Divine Youth Oil and Youth Cream for the gentle yet effective anti-aging properties. This fall season they reformulated their Divine Youth Oil to increase the concentration of Immortelle essential oils to improve the anti-aging properties. L’Occitane has also expanded the Divine Skincare Collection with new cleansers and I’m thrilled to have been able to get an early peek at them to put to the test. I have five items featured today. For those new to my blog I’ll give you a little background on my skin type and concerns. I’m in my mid-30’s and have sensitive but otherwise normal skin. I’m extremely sensitive to many kinds of fragrance and any kind of reaction (to scent, ingredients etc.) usually happens immediately. I’ve used L’Occitane since I was a freshman in college starting with their Shea Butter hand creams and cuticle treatments, ventured into their body treatments and then skincare. They’ve consistently been a favorite for natural gentle and effective formulas for my skin type. For most of my life I lived in Southern California where there was mild but warm climate and the Divine Youth Oil was perfect for cooler weather and also for times I felt dry. I currently live in Florida where the heat and humidity are pretty high but I’ve still experienced dryness due to the water. My primary concerns are anti-aging, finding something lightweight but with enough moisture to hydrate the skin, and also finding cleansers that will remove all traces of sweat, makeup and dirt at the end of the day.

The Immortelle Divine Youth Oil has been a long-time go-to and the new formula is just as good as the original. It has a lightweight soothing natural earthy scent to it, absorbs quickly into the skin and makes all tightness (if you are dry) disappear. On me it’s instantly soothing and hydrating with a good dry down but still has that soft emollient feel. Skin feels noticeably more plump and smooth. It’s one of my favorite oils ever.

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The Immortelle Divine Youth Cream is also one of my favorite face moisturizers because it has a very soft consistency. This one also absorbs quickly into the skin and doesn’t leave any heavy or goopy residue. It leaves the skin looking like it has a natural glow and it’s compatible with the different formulas of foundation that I use. In general I’m more of a cream person than an oil person for day so if I had to pick one, I’d probably opt for the cream over the oil.

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The Immortelle Divine Eyes isn’t new, but it’s new to me. My personal favorite eye treatment has actually been the Immortelle Precious Eye Balm, but I love trying all kinds of eye treatments. The Immortelle Divine Eyes comes with a nice pump that dispenses just the right amount of product for me to cover both eyes (I only use a tiny bit). It’s a creamy gel formula that has a lightweight feel. Often times I can’t use the rich formulas for eye cream because they run into my eyes and sting them. This one has a light enough texture that it sets within a few minutes and make the skin feel smoother and softer.

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There are two new cleansers this season for a double cleanse routine including the Immortelle Divine Cleansing Balm (in a jar) and Cleansing Foam (comes in a squeeze tube). The Divine Cleansing Balm is a super hydrating balm-in-oil formula that you massage into the skin to remove makeup. Once you work it in a circular motion on the face it transforms into an oil. It removes all face makeup (I still use a regular eye makeup remover to remove mascara and eyeliner first) and almost feels like a mask treatment after you rinse. L’Occitane recommends using the Cleansing Foam after as a double cleanse to further remove impurities from the skin. I’ve tried both together and also separately. In the mornings I find I can just use the Cleansing Foam. In the evenings I like the double cleanse routine to completely clean the skin. It’s something I do anyways as I wear makeup pretty much everyday and with the long-wear formulas I find double cleansing essential to fully cleanse the skin.

As a beauty blogger I love putting new things to the test but I still like to have a routine. The nice thing about brands like L’Occitane is that you can easily incorporate one or two new items into your morning or nightly skincare rituals without having to overhaul your entire routine. As cooler weather approaches I always have to switch things up a bit as my skin adjusts to temperature changes. I start using oils more frequently and if you’re looking for a nice gentle one I highly recommend giving the L’Occitane Divine Youth Oil a try for glowing skin.

As an added bonus the L’Occitane team is giving away everything featured in this post to 1 lucky winner. Enter through the widget below. It’s open internationally but you must be 18 years or older to enter. Simply follow through the instructions in the widget and a winner will be selected at random and contacted by me via e-mail by 9/25/2017 11:45 PM EST.

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Shop the post:

Many thanks to L’Occitane for sponsoring this post. As always all opinions my own.

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Charlotte Tilbury

Charlotte Tilbury Hollywood Collection

September 20, 2017

By popular request I have a review + swatches of the entire Charlotte Tilbury Hollywood Collection. This collection launched a few weeks ago with new makeup formulas for lips (liquid lips) and cheeks (contour wands and a new highlight wand). I’m still playing catch up with posting about new beauty launches – these have all been put to the test for several weeks by now. The entire collection has a glamorous theme with luxe packaging. For me there are some hits and misses with this launch. More details on each below.

For the lips there are 10 shades of a new liquid lipstick called Hollywood Lips which are soft matte liquid lipsticks that have a plumping effect. I’m still not a fan of liquid lipsticks because I have full lips and matte shades tend to make my lips either look flat, dark or wrinkled like prunes. The best thing about liquid lips is the lasting power once they set and don’t budge after they dry however for me the “setting” factor isn’t something that works in my favor. They usually make my lips look like dry cardboard and I end up looking aged. Adding a balm or primer underneath can help with the finish for me but it’s an extra step I’m not thrilled about (I did that here with the NARS Powermatte Lips). In terms of matte lipsticks in general, the Charlotte Tilbury Matte Revolution formula is the best matte I’ve tried (reviewed here and here). I had high hopes of the new Hollywood Lips as her colors are usually 100% on point but I was still unsure of the formula. These come with a beveled sponge tip applicator and have full buildable coverage. Texture is smooth and easy to blend but they still dry to a soft matte finish. Once on the lips they don’t budge or slide around but they aren’t transfer proof as they never set or dry completely. The thing that struck me the most was how full they made my lips look – without any tingle or plumping feel. The formula is one of the better ones I’ve tried for a matte liquid lip but it still has not made me fall in love with liquid lipsticks. Out of all the liquid lipstick formulas I’ve tried the Burberry Lip Velvets have the best formula and finish but if you remember my review from a while ago, none of the colors worked for me. With the Charlotte Tilbury Hollywood Lips the colors work well, but formula is still a bit dry-looking.

Descriptions of the colors:

Charlotte Darling is a light peachy pink
Best Actress is a perfect nude
Dolly Bird is a cool-toned light pink
Platinum Blonde is a pink nude
Rising Star is a medium neutral pink
Pin Up Pink is a deeper brighter rose
Too Bad I’m Bad is a deep coral pink
Show Girl is a perfect plum mauve
Dangerous Liason is a deep brick red
Screen Siren is a bright red

My favorites are Best Actress, Platinum Blonde, Too Bad I’m Bad and Show Girl. All the darker shades performed the best for me. I was relieved to see all the lighter colors worked as well color-wise, the formula not so much with Charlotte Darling and Dolly Bird – they looked extra dry on my lips.

Next are the contour and highlight which I wasn’t excited about in the least. To this day I’m not huge about contouring as I have a round face and there’s really only so much I can do to create the illusion of sharper cheek bones. I do use products to contour softly in a 3 shape (or backwards 3 on one side) with creams or powders but it’s usually a very quick process for me. I don’t have the patience to do a proper contour. There are two shades of the Hollywood Contour Wand in Light-Medium and Medium-Dark. Swatched on the arm you can clearly see the difference in undertone but on my face both look very similar in the sense they look dark straight out of the squeeze tube. The Beauty Light Wand highlighter comes in one shade Spotlight which looked super frosty when I swatched it but was surprisingly wearable once blended onto the face. Both come with a sponge tip applicator which is soft and cushiony. I don’t know how well it will hold up after use – it’s something that looks like it could get really dirty quickly.

The pigment is intense and quite rich but very easy to blend for a natural look. I was pleasantly surprised by how much I like these. They do set after a few minutes so I’d recommend blending quickly. The Double-Ended Complexion Contour Brush is very good and quite clever with the smaller angled tip so you can easily blend along the nose or other areas where you want a more detailed contour or highlight. I’ve lost some of my tan with recent travel and the heat here in Florida has made it where I’ve pretty much stayed indoors as much as possible. I like the Light-Medium color but think it has enough of a cool undertone to work for those lighter in skintone than me.

Swatches:

A quick look with two of the Hollywood Lips and the Contour Wand + Beauty Light Wand. I’m wearing:

Diorskin Forever Perfect Foundation in 21 mixed with 31
Charlotte Tilbury Flawless Powder #2
Charlotte Tilbury Legendary Brow Gel in Supermodel
Contour Wand in Light Medium
Beauty Light Wand in Spotlight (both on eyes and cheeks)
Right side: Hollywood Lips in Platinum Blonde, left side: Screen Siren

Bottom line a nice collection for lips and cheeks. The Hollywood Lips are definitely among the better formulas I’ve tried since they don’t dry down 100% and aren’t super matte. The colors are all beautiful and easy to wear. I was pleasantly surprised by how wearable and easy to use the contour wand and highlighter are. They’re compact and easy to travel with or apply on the go if you need to touch up or apply makeup in the car.

You can find the Charlotte Tilbury Hollywood Collection now at Charlotte Tilbury and Beautylish. Also available at all other Charlotte Tilbury counters.

Many thanks to the Charlotte Tilbury team and Beautylish for providing products for me to review and swatch for my readers.

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Hourglass Cosmetics Lips

Hourglass Confession Ultra Slim High Intensity Lipsticks

September 18, 2017

I’m back in Florida with my family and we are all safe and sound. We are all slowly getting back into the swing of things and today I have a review on the Hourglass Confession Ultra Slim High Intensity Lipsticks ($34 each 0.03 oz/ .9 g, $22 for the refills). I had planned to publish this weeks ago but as some say better late than never. I initially reviewed one shade called I Woke Up in my neutral lip haul back in July (time flies!). At that time there were only select handful of shades that launched in store but by now the Sephora stores I’ve visited have the entire color lineup. The Hourglass team sent all the refills for review and I’ve swatched them by color grouping below. Due to time restraints, life and travel I didn’t have time to photograph and edit all the lip swatches, but I did test each color. I find my initial thoughts to be the same across the board. The Confession Ultra Slim High Intensity Lipsticks are among the best formula I’ve tried. They’re creamy, opaque, smooth, incredibly long-lasting, they don’t feather, they don’t dry out the lips and there’s no detectable scent. The slim packaging has a good weight in the hand when you hold them – it’s actually a lot nicer in person than I had anticipated. The only downside is the price which I still think is too high considering the amount of product you get. After falling in love with I Woke Up, I had planned on purchasing 2-3 more colors as the formula is very very good. A press package arrived before I made it to the store.

There are 30 shades total available at most stores and counters which I have swatched and reviewed today. There are a few colors exclusive to the Hourglass website in I Dream and I Love, along with three shades exclusive to a Holiday Trio Set with My One Desire, True Love Means and You Are My. I don’t have these featured in this post but I will review the colors in the holiday set soon though.

In swatching 30 of the colors on the arm and testing them on the lips I was really impressed that each color had smooth opaque coverage. In lipstick launches I usually find at least a few colors that are either too pale and streaky or too dark and streaky. All the colors I tested covered my pigmented lips entirely with ultra smooth pigment and coverage. There were a few pale colors I found a bit too pale for my skintone but they still performed really well. As usual a lot of the reds looked really similar on my complexion but that is the case with most reds. You can see a slight difference in undertone in the arm swatches so if you lean more towards a warm or cool base I hope the swatches help you find your perfect red.

A quick look at the packaging. These are refillable lipsticks and they are easy to assemble. You can buy them as a complete lipstick for $34 or the refills at $22 each. The refills themselves are usable alone so if you want to skip the exterior you can. For the refills you basically remove the cap and base and insert them into the gold exterior. They twist up and down.

I’ve swatched these by color grouping, up first are the lighter shades:

The First Time – pink beige
I Wish – neutral pale nude beige
One Day – neutral beige pink
No One Knows – light pinky peach
I Lust For – peachy beige cream
I’ll Never Stop – beige nude cream
I Want – deeper pink beige

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Next set:

I Always – bright fuchsia cool pink
You Can Find Me – peachy coral pink
My Favorite – neutral-cool pink
I’ve Kissed – medium neutral rose pink
I’m Addicted – tawny rose pink
If Only – pink with some berry tones
I’ve Never – medium peachy tan beige
I Woke Up – soft rose pink

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Brighter and deeper shades:

I Believe – bright cool pink
I Can’t Wait – vibrant peony pink
I Live For – bright orange red
I Desire – bright orange red, slightly deeper than I Live For
I Crave – brick red
My Icon Is – true red
Secretly – slightly deeper red
I Can’t Live Without – deeper berry red

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Last set:

At Night – brick red with brown tones
I’ve Been – brown with red undertone
One Time – bright rose pink
When I’m With You – bright pink with cool plum tones
When I’m Alone – deep berry red
If I Could – plum red cream
I Hide My – plum

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I swatched 10 shades on the lips to try and show the range of color. These are all swatched on bare lips. Foundation shade worn is Tom Ford Waterproof Foundation and Concealer in Natural.

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As mentioned in my previous review these are excellent in formula, presentation, packaging and lasting power. They aren’t moisturizing but they don’t dry out my lips. These Confession lipsticks also feel comfortable and weightless on the lips even though they are full coverage. The slim design and angled mold these are formed in helps create a clean and precise line. By comparison the GIRL Lip Stylos have a creamier feel with more shine but also can get prone to looking messy once you wear the tip down (not a deal breaker for me, but just an observation). I love that the Confession lipsticks have a tiny bit of shine to them as I don’t find that matte finish lipsticks wear well on me (with the exception of the Louboutin and Charlotte Tilbury mattes). In terms of lipstick launches this formula is excellent with full smooth coverage. Out of the new launches I have tested so far, I have no regrets purchasing I Woke Up and would have had no regrets buying a few more although I still think the price tag is too steep for the amount of product you get. If you are looking for a high quality full coverage long-wear lipstick that doesn’t look cakey or matte this is a great option.

You can find the Hourglass Confession Ultra Slim High Intensity Lipsticks along with the refills at all Hourglass counters now. Online at Nordstrom, Sephora, Space NK, Bergdorf Goodman, Barneys New York, Hourglass Cosmetics and all other Hourglass retailers.

Have you tried any of these yet? What did you think?

Confession Ultra Slim High Intensity Lipsticks gifted courtesy of Hourglass for review.

22 Comments

Armani Lips

Armani Ecstasy Shine Lipstick Review + Swatches

September 5, 2017

Armani Beauty just launched a new lipstick formula called Ecstasy Shine ($38 each for .1 oz, made in France). These are high shine lipsticks with a balmy feel with medium to rich coverage. The lighter color shades have a sheerer finish while the deeper or bright ones are one-swipe wonders on my pigmented lips. They have a finish and texture that reminds me of the first generation of sheer lipsticks Armani launched many years ago (I’m thinking around 2001-ish) but without as much slip or sheerness. Given the balm-like texture these still have some slip but they don’t disappear on my lips as quickly as some of the older Armani formulas. They feel ultra nourishing, comforting and smooth on the lips. There’s a glossy sheen and while they aren’t long-lasting like regular lipsticks or nearly as rich or long-lasting as their Lip Magnets I find they do stay put on the lips until you drink or snack. These feel so nice on the lips I don’t mind reapplying.

I have seven shades swatched:

100 is a sheer light pink neutral
101 is a medium pink-brown
200 is a sheer brown with a hint of pink
300 is a bright orange coral
400 is a perfect classic bold red
500 is a gorgeous sheer-medium hot pink
506 is a pigmented fuchsia pink

Another look + lip swatches, foundation worn is Diorskin Forever Perfect Foundation in 21 + 31 mixed (review here).

I’m a sheer lipstick and lip gloss lover so these are right up my alley. To me they have more of a summer feel with the color scheme and texture but as one who really doesn’t favor matte lips I’m not complaining. The color lineup is filled with timeless classics. I need to make a trip to the counter to see if I can find a good plum shade. My favorite of course is a neutral 100. I can’t help but feel 506 is a perfect fuchsia and Armani does really good orangey-reds and classic reds. As far as I can tell there’s no detectable scent once on the lips. The lipstick in the tube has a natural kind of scent that smells like an essential oil. Something you might expect in a lip treatment or balm. Once I have it on the lips I can’t smell anything. They have a similar vibe to the YSL Rouge Volupte Shines but the Armani has a little less slip, no fruity scent, and more pigment. I love both formulas but this one from Armani feels more along lines of a classic tinted balm lipstick. Bottom line: glossy, nicely hydrating and a great color range.

You can find these at all Armani counters by now. Available at Nordstrom, Neiman Marcus, Sephora, Barneys New York Giorgio Armani Beauty and all other counters. Have you tried these yet?

Armani ecstasy shine provided courtesy of Armani for review.

16 Comments

Sisley-Paris

Sisley-Paris September Subscription Box Spotlight

September 4, 2017

Earlier in the summer I shared a look at the Sisley-Paris Subscription Service featuring 6 month’s worth of boxes. I’ve been exploring more from Sisley over the past few months and have been extremely impressed – it’s truly everything so many of you have raved about! This is the first year I’ve tried the Sisley Subscription Service and it’s hands down the best one I’ve tried for beauty. Finding good skincare that works can be a tricky process as we all have such different skin types and needs. Factors like age, sensitivity and climate also make a huge difference on being able to find what works. Being able to sample skincare before investing in it is essential to me. I love brands that offer a subscription program, travel/trial sets or smaller-sized options. I’m more likely to splurge if I’m able to try something first to see if it will work! The Sisley Subscription Service comes in 6 or 12-month option at an affordable price. Each month you receive 5 samples in the mail – it’s been the perfect way for me to explore the line and the samples they send you are the good ones!

Each month has a different theme. September’s box contains five of Sisley’s Most-Talked About Items. I’ve discovered a few new holy grails. As you can see in the image directly below, the subscription comes with deluxe sized miniatures. There are 5 per month in each box:

I have all five in the full sizes to review for you. I was lucky to get an early preview of these so I could put them to the test. I’ve been dying to share thoughts on these and am thrilled I can do so today!

Express Flower Gel Mask is a hydrating and toning mask. It gives the skin a refresh in just 3 minutes with lily and iris extracts to give it a serious boost of hydration. This is one of the most soothing masks I’ve ever used and skin is baby soft after use. Out of all the face masks I’ve tried this one gives me the softest skin I’ve ever felt.

Eye Contour Mask is an eye mask that you leave on for 10 minutes and then wipe off without rinsing. When it comes to eye concerns my biggest one is with puffiness. This one works well to reduce swelling when I’ve had a long day or didn’t sleep well. It has a semi-thick cooling feel once you apply it. After I remove it my eye area is well hydrated and refreshed.

So Intense Mascara is a classic must-have. I just discovered it a few months ago and it has a tiny comb that catches all the lashes right from the base. It has a rich black color that dries quickly. It holds the curl, adds definition and volume and doesn’t smudge on me. I can’t believe I didn’t try it sooner.

Gentle Buffing Cream is exactly as the name implies. I struggle with face scrubs as I have extremely sensitive skin. This one is very gentle and you apply it to clean dry skin. You let it dry for a few minutes then massage and buff until the particles disappear. A little goes a long way and the jar has a generous amount. Rinse with water and skin is softly exfoliated and is left smooth without that dried out raw feeling.

Soir D’Orient is one of the deepest spiciest fragrances I’ve tried. It’s a spicy floral that dries down to a rich rose. It has a deep vibe that feels like fall. Top botes are saffron accord, middle notes include Turkish Rose and the base has Somalian Incense. It’s a unisex scent that both my husband and I tried. We both feel it pulls a bit more feminine but could go either way. For this one I recommend letting it sit for a minute to see how it transforms – the dry down is really beautiful. Lasting power is strong and it remains on my skin from morning to early evening.

I think all of September’s box contents are a hit. My favorites are the Gentle Buffing Cream and Express Flower Gel Mask. You can find the Sisley Subscription Service exclusively online at their U.S. website.

As a bonus I’m thrilled that Sisley has offered to do an amazing giveaway to 5 U.S. readers! Five distinct U.S. readers will be selected via the Rafflecopter widget to receive a 6-month Sisley-Paris Beauty Subscription. To enter – you must follow all 3 steps in the widget below for us to collect entries:

Open to U.S. residents only
Must be 18 years or older
Follow steps in widget to 1) follow @beautylookbook on Instagram 2) follow @sisleyparisusa on instagram and 3) sign up for the Sisley-Paris newsletter (all three are linked via the widget below)
Note you must complete all 3 tasks!
Giveaway will run from 9/4/2017 to 9/9/2017 11:45 PM EST
Five U.S. winners will be selected within 24 hours after the giveaway period ends and contacted by me for information
Winner information will be passed along to Sisley-Paris USA
Selected winners will each receive a 6-month beauty subscription from Sisley-Paris

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Have you tried any Sisley-Paris skincare or makeup? What are your favorite items?

Items provided courtesy of Sisley for me to be their ambassador for September. Giveaway also provided courtesy of Sisley.

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Clarins Skincare

Clarins Double Serum #NextGenSerum

September 1, 2017

One of my newest skincare discoveries is the Clarins Double Serum Hydric + Lipidic Serum ($89 for 1 fl oz/30 ml). This is a reformulation of one of Clarins’ cult anti-aging classics which they call their Next Generation Serum. I’ve never tried the previous versions but Clarins reached out and asked me to put this one to the test and after regular daily use I can say it’s a winner for me.

The Clarins Double Serum is an age control serum. It’s packed with two anti-aging serums in one and there’s a dial that allows you to control the dosage you dispense. I’ve been using the smaller one as I find it is better suited for my combination skin, warm climate and summer season. The larger dose is what they call a power shot for normal or dry skin, cold dry climates or winter. I’ve tried both dosage options and for me the smaller dose is the best for both day and night. The power shot was too strong and rich for my skin to handle, even at night.

This is a wrinkle treatment that has 20+ plant extracts including Tumeric to help with wrinkles, fine lines and boost radiance. The description says you’ll see results in 7 days and after using this a multitude of ways I have definitely seen an improvement in skin texture. I did see results after using this daily for 7 days (morning and night) and I did notice brighter smoother skin after that period. I especially noticed improvement when using this at night – I find my skin noticably smoother and fine lines diminished on my forehead when I wake up.

I’ve continued using this for the past month on a regular basis although after the 7 day period I’ve used it on and off with other serums in my routine for day but have used it nightly on a more regular basis. The smaller dose allows the product to last longer for me as a little goes a long way. If you think you’ll use the larger dose and have dry skin I’d recommend option for the larger size.

I have very sensitive skin – you might have noticed that I am prone to allergic reactions with a lot of fragranced skincare and even foundations. This one was suitable for my sensitive skin without any irritation. It doesn’t leave any sticky residue even though it has that serum formula. Application is smooth and easy to apply and the best thing about this one is that I’ve found it compatible with all my other moisturizers from other brands so I don’t have to switch around what I use with this one. A quick note on serums though is that I think they are best worn with a regular moisturizer on top – especially if you wear foundation or any kind of base product.

The packaging is phenomenal – it’s well designed, sturdy, has the right size/shape to hold easily in the hand. It also comes with a sturdy cap to protect the pump. The pump will dispense both phases into your hand – you just need to rub them together to combine before applying to your face. I have a huge appreciation for packaging that is functional, sturdy and innovative – I really like the way this serum has been put together.

Below you can see the two serums have been dispensed – it’s separated when you first pump it out but it blends easily in the hands before you apply to the face.

Ingredients: Aqua/Water/Eau, Cetearyl Isononanoate, Glycerin, Isononyl Isononanoate, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Pentylene Glycol, Ppg-3 Myristyl Ether, Ethylene/Propylene/Styrene Copolymer, Dipsacus Sylvestris Extract, Butylene Glycol, Parfum/ Fragrance, Phenoxyethanol, Propanediol, Tromethamine, Silybum Marianum Seed Oil, Carbomer, Tocopheryl Acetate, Escin, Cheno -Podium Quinoa Seed Extract, Ethylhexylglycerin, Squalane, Avena Sativa (Oat) Kernel Extract, Theobroma Cacao (Cocoa) Extract, Butylene/Ethylene/Styrene Copolymer, Leontopodium Alpinum Extract, Xanthan Gum, Persea Gratissima (Avocado) Oil Unsaponifiables, Caramel, Curcuma Longa (Turmeric) Root Extract, Salicyloyl Phytosphingosine, Musa Sapientum (Banana) Fruit Extract, Salicornia Herbacea Extract, Actinidia Chinensis (Kiwi) Fruit Extract, Kalanchoe Pinnata Leaf Extract, Sodium Benzoate, Citric Acid, Myrothamnus Flabellifolia Leaf/Stem Extract, Disodium Edta, Tocopherol, Lycium Barbarum Fruit Extract, Maltodextrin, Orthosiphon Stamineus Extract, Hedychium Coronarium Root Extract, Mangifera Indica (Mango) Leaf Extract, Potassium Sorbate, Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate, Jania Rubens Extract, Ascorbic Acid, Sodium Citrate, Engelhardtia Chrysolepis Leaf Extract, Ci 14700/Red 4, Callicarpa Japonica Fruit Extract.

Bottom line a solid winner and exactly what I need for my skin now that fine lines have started to surface on my face. You can find the Clarins Double Serum in two sizes in a 1.0 oz ($89) and 1.6 oz ($122), available at Clarins and Dillard’s and all other Clarins counters.

Have you tried this one yet? If not do you have any Clarins skincare favorites? I’m obsessed with their lip oils!

Thanks to Clarins for partnering to sponsor this post.

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