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Charlotte Tilbury The Supermodel Brow Lift Kit Review

March 29, 2017

Charlotte Tilbury launched a new set called The Supermodel Brow Lift Kit ($124) containing 5 of her essentials for creating her flawless eyebrow look. I’ve already tried a few of the items individually in the past and I think it’s great that Charlotte Tilbury has launched some sets for those who are just starting to get into her line. This kit allows you to choose your own colors, if you were to buy everything separately it would retail at $138.50 so you do get a bit of a price break with the set. What’s inside the kit:

Legendary Brows Brow Gel
Brow Lift Brow Pencil
The Retoucher Conceal and Treat Stick
Life Changing Lashes Eyelash Curler
Full Fat Glossy Lashes Mascara in Black

Up first are the Brow Lift brow pencil and Legendary Brows gel. I selected the color Supermodel for both which is a good neutral-cool medium-deep brown. I have dark black hair but it has a lot of natural streaks of red and brown so pure black is often too harsh and some browns contain red which is a no-go for me. Supermodel is a deep enough to look natural on me and doesn’t look harsh.

The Brow Lift brow pencil has beveled tip and it’s a twist up on one side with product and a brush at the other end. It has a slightly waxy feel which helps fill in sparse areas. The color and texture are really good and easy to apply.

The Legendary Brows comes in a clear shade which I’ve tried and liked. I was really interested to try the tinted version which I like a lot better. It helps add a bit more definition in a natural way and does help to keep flyaways in place.

Here’s what the Supermodel brow pencil and gel look like on me, since I have odd-shaped brows I usually go light with product because one swipe too much ends up looking really harsh. Foundation shade worn is the Becca Aqualuminous Foundation in Light and Beige mixed (review here), on the lips is MAC Lustre Lipstick from the Work it Out collection Testosterone (review here). It’s barely noticeable but on the cheeks is a sheer wash of the Charlotte Tilbury Filmstar Bronze and Glow duo in the lighter option (both options on the face here).

Brow swatch comparisons: Diorshow Brow Styler in Universal Brown is my most-used brow pencil because it’s the easiest for me to use without overdoing it, Kevyn Aucoin Precision Brown Pencil Brunette is darker, Anastasia Beverly Hills Brow Wiz in Medium Brown has a bit more warmth, Tom Ford Brow Sculptor Espresso is my second most-used pencil because the color works for me, Glossier Boy Brow in Brown is a good one for natural brows and runs a bit lighter but still works for my dark hair, Tom Ford Fiber Brow Gel in Espresso is my favorite tinted brow gel because the tiny fibers help fill in the brow naturally, By Terry Brow Mascara in Dark Brown was my first tinted brow product which I’ve repurchased many times.

If any of you want a more comprehensive brow post for natural brows let me know and I’ll put one together with thoughts on some powder formulas and tools I like. Let me know in the comments!

Up next are the Full Fat Lashes Mascara in Glossy Black and the Life Changing Lashes curler. I’ve tried both and I think the mascara is just ok. I have super straight lashes so I need a lot of volumizing for them to show up. What I do like about the mascara is that it’s a true black, it doesn’t clump and is pretty good at not smudging. It doesn’t hold my curl and it doesn’t add much volume but everyone I’ve talked to about this in person loves this one.

For the Life Changing Lashes curler I bought one a few years ago when her line launched. I no longer own it because it got so much use and wear I had to throw it away. I haven’t repurchased or looked at them since – not until this kit arrived for review. For some reason I feel like the one she has right now has been improved – it feels a bit larger in size and more hefty than the original (which I really liked). The one she has now is still very good. The curler portion seems to be larger but since I don’t have the original one I owned I can’t really compare – if you have purchased them before let me know if you think there’s a difference. It does a great job at curling without pinching. The rosegold finish is just so pretty!

Swatches of the set, first without flash:

With flash:

Last but not least is The Retoucher Concealer. This is a twist up with brush kind of concealer. I’ve owned #3 in the past and used it up but since then have gotten around 1 to 1.5 shade lighter in color. Of course now that I’ve been in Florida for a month now I’ve gotten a bit of a tan with the outdoors so I’m in between shades. Right now #2 works well to brighten the under eye area perfectly for me. It has medium smooth coverage and gives a natural looking finish. If you need more coverage I would say this is not the best for blemishes or dark spots. I used mine up to the end and planned on repurchasing but have a lot of other formulas I’m testing so never got around to it.

I swatched them all in a concealer story I did a while back but am reposting for reference:

Bottom line this is a great kit for easy to do brows. You can use the Retoucher under the brow bone to highlight or open up the eyes and also underneath to brighten. The soft emollient blendable texture makes for a nice natural look. I love both of the brow products for a natural easy everyday kind of look. The only item I’m not crazy about is the mascara but I’m going to try experimenting with some primers and lash bases to see if I can try to make it hold the curl better.

You can find the The Supermodel Brow Lift Kit online now at Charlotte Tilbury for $124. Have you tried any of these before? If so what did you think? If not do you have any go-to brow products?

Brow kit provided courtesy of Charlotte Tilbury for review.

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Chanel

Chanel Rouge Coco Gloss Review + Swatches

March 24, 2017

Chanel recently reformulated their lip gloss with a new formula called Rouge Coco Gloss ($30 each for 5.5 g/0.19 oz, made in France). This is a new and improved version that offers more hydration with a glossier finish and plump feel. As a long-time Glossimer fan I was a bit sad to see the original formula go but since Chanel has revamped a number of other products in their line I think it was inevitable to see a new gloss formula. The new Rouge Coco Glosses have two different formulas, most are a regular lip gloss formula Gel Brilliant Hydrantant / Moisturizing Glossimer, but three shades are what Chanel calls Top Coat Intense / Colour-Intensifying Top Coat designed to layer over lipstick to change color.

There are 30 shades of Rouge Coco Gloss total for the initial launch. At a quick glance there are at least a few that seem to be repromotes (but with different names). We’re in the midst of working on a few remodels which will take some time so much of my makeup is stored boxes so I won’t be able to do swatch comparisons for old vs new. I received 8 shades as press samples and purchased 8 on my own to review. Some thoughts on the new formula and then swatches of 16 colors below.

The Rouge Coco Gloss formula is described as a “non-sticky, ultra light formula leaves lips visibly smooth and plump, and perfectly brilliant.” These are indeed smooth glosses that give the lips an ultra high shine. They aren’t tacky or sticky but being a gloss there is still a little bit of balmy gloss feel. On my lips they don’t really feel ultra light, but more like a semi-thick balm.
Finish is ultra shiny and glossy.
Pigment and finish varies across all colors. Some are sheer creams, some sheer shimmers, some high sparkle shimmers, others are opaque creams.
There’s no detectable scent. Yay!
Compared to the original, the sponges have a curved more cushiony bigger applicator tip which allows for more coverage in fewer swipes.
Formula is hydrating and has a cushiony feel, the new ones are noticeably more cushiony and hydrating compared to the original formula.
Lasting power is pretty good, I’ve been snacking a lot lately so I haven’t had any extended period of time where my lips go untouched to test these. I find they stay put for a few hours without sliding off or fading. They will of course transfer if you drink or eat.
Some of the colors are sheer so my natural lip color shows through making many of these look similar.
These have numbers on the bottom of the sticker, but they also have names which aren’t listed on the actual gloss (they are on the boxes).

A look at the old vs new:

I split the colors into color grouping for the swatches, descriptions on each color below as well. As always I’ve swatched these on bare lips. My foundation shade is Tom Ford Waterproof Foundation in Bisque. First are the light golds and neutrals:

774 Excitation is a top coat, it’s a sheer gold that brightens lip colors
712 Melted Honey is a sheer warm golden honey shimmer
722 Noce Moscata (purchased) is a semi-sheer smooth shimmering neutral fawn, love this!
714 Caresse (purchased) is a medium coverage nude brown cream
716 Caramel (purchased) is a medium coverage nude pink cream

Next are the peach orangey shades and the two darker colors I have:

744 Subtil (purchased) is a pigmented shimmering peachy color with pink and gold
736 Douceur (purchased) is a sheer cantelope cream
776 Impulsion is a top coat, it’s a sheer orange that brightens and warms up colors
752 Bitter Orange is a pigmented bright orange with a tiny bit of shimmer
768 Decadent is black in the tube, on the lips it’s a sheer vampy plum, color is gorgeous but this one went on super streaky and settled into lip lines for me
778 Caviar is a black shimmer in the tube, on the lips it’s a super sheer almost black grey gloss, this is a top coat designed to deepen lipstick color

Last set are the pinks:

726 Icing is a sheer pale milky pink, this one goes on smooth without any streaks
119 Bourgeoisie is a medium pigmented shimmering rose with gold flecks, this is almost identical to Wild Rose in the original formula, but the new one feels a lot more sparkly
728 Rose Pulpe (purchased) is a medium bright soft pink with micro sparkles
172 Tendresse (purchased) is another favorite, it s a medium hot pink rose with shimmer
738 Amuse-Bouche (purchased) is a pigmented bright pink with a tiny bit of shimmer

For those curious about how the top coats transform lip colors, I have it swatched over Rouge Coco in Vera (a baby pink) and Suzanne (a medium plum). To recap, 774 Excitation is the gold top coat, 776 Impulsion is the Orange Top Coat and 778 Caviar is the black top coat. I was really skeptical that these would do anything to lip color. I received the top coats as press samples and even after seeing them at the counter they didn’t really speak to me until I swatched them on my own. As you can see below they really do shift the color. They’re sheer but still manage to change a lipstick. I like Impulsion (the orange one) the best.

Overall, my thoughts are that Chanel has indeed improved the formula. I still have quite a few in the old formula which I adore. I would have loved to see a few more of the original shades in the new formula, but I think there will be a lot we can look forward to in the future. The main differences between old vs new is the applicator change and also the new ones have a cushiony feel with more shine. Off the top of my head, Bourgeoisie looks like Wild Rose, Douceur reminds me of Sirop, either Caresse or Caramel remind me of Giggle.

Since I have pigmented lips and some of these colors are sheer or semi-sheer many look pretty similar on my lips. I was completely blown away by the pigment of Bitter Orange and Amuse-Bouche. Both are brighter than I’d normally wear but I think will be perfect for when the actual summer season arrives. As much as I adore sheer glosses, part of me wishes all the colors had the same pigment as those two. My top 5 color picks out of what I tested: Caramel, Noce Moscata, Amuse-Bouche, Tendresse and Bourgeoisie. My husband commented that my lipstick looked good when I wore Tendresse which made me smile because he rarely comments on my makeup.

You can find the Rouge Coco Gloss at all Chanel counters now. I ordered the ones I purchased online at Chanel and Nordstrom. They retail for $30 each.

8 colors provided as press samples, 8 colors purchased by me.

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Chanel

Chanel Le Vernis Tulle, Washed Denim, Androgyne and Emblematique

March 22, 2017

There are four new Le Vernis Nail Colours ($28 each for 13 ml/0.4 fl oz, made in France) from Chanel that have launched with the new Rouge Coco Gloss collection. The new shades are all creams (non-shimmers) in Tulle, Washed Denim, Androgyne and Emblematique. All four performed well in terms of smooth application and rich opaque pigment. The color selection seems to be an odd mix to me as there is not really a theme but since they aren’t really part of a color collection it makes sense that they wouldn’t be coordinated or match. My favorite one is Tulle which surprised me. In the bottle I thought it looked like a boring peach but on the hands it’s actually just perfect for spring.

I purchased all four colors, descriptions as follows:

Tulle (is the only one listed as limited-edition) is a medium peach, it’s the perfect mix of peach with a slight hint of pink, there’s no yellowish tone which is perfect for my olive skintone. I don’t do back-ups of nail polish anymore but I’m tempted to do so with this one.
Androgyne is a dark purple, it has that secret shimmer you see in the bottle, but on the nails all you see is a cream color. Sometimes I wish Chanel made the shimmers visible on the nails – it has this pretty almost blue iridescent sheen to it. This one is almost identical to Vertigo (comparisons below).
Emblematique is a sheer blue-based red. It has a slight jelly finish but is still smooth and opaque. On me these kinds of reds apply true to the bottle but then darken as they dry down. Out of the four I would say this is the least unique and most easily dupeable.
Washed Denim is a surprisingly pretty soft blue. Whenever I wear blues on the fingers I often feel like it looks so unnatural. There are lots of lighter blues that I’ll still wear or grey blues but for me blue is hard to pull off. This one manages to be muted enough and has some grey tones that it’s very wearable for everyday but still different enough that it’s not a neutral. I really like this one.

Swatches and close ups of each color. I used 2 coats for application with each swatch, Tulle is first.

Tulle

Androgyne

Emblematique

Washed Denim

Nail wheel comparisons, note the following shades have been discontinued: Majesty, June, Orange Fizz, Paradoxal, Vertigo

Overall I love Tulle and Washed Denim because the colors are flattering and the most unique out of the four. Some may find peach polishes to be fairly standard but for me, if a peach polish has too much brown, beige or yellow it ends up making my olive skin look sallow. Tulle has enough pink in it to work for me. I find Emblematique can be duped by a lot of other sheer blue-based reds. Androgyne looks very similar to Vertigo, so if you already own that one you might want to skip it to avoid dupes. That being said the new Chanel polish formula has improved in pigment and lasting power. You can see previous reviews of the new polishes here, here and here.

I’ll have the new Rouge Coco Glosses reviewed and swatched soon. I’m working my way through quite a few of the shades, first impressions are that they do seem to be more lush and more hydrating than the original formula (which I loved). You can find all four of the Le Vernis nail polishes at all Chanel counters and stores now. I ordered all four from Chanel.com.

Have you checked these out yet? Did you pick up any of the colors? If not what have you been wearing on your nails lately?

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Bronzer + Blush Tom Ford Beauty

Tom Ford Beauty Summer Soleil Collection

March 17, 2017

Last month I was lucky to get an early sneak preview of the Tom Ford Summer Soleil Collection in Los Angeles at Violet Grey. I went with my friend Rae from The RaeViewer and we were able to check out everything and get our makeup done by their National Artist Executive Allan Aponte (he’s amazingly talented). Both Rae and I are huge Tom Ford fans – we still remember the first time we each splurged on a Tom Ford lipstick, so being able to play with the new collection together was just the best. You can see a few sneak peeks of her makeover on her YouTube channel (I’m kinda proud of these clips because it was my first time filming someone!).

In today’s review I have the following new items to share with you:

The Ultimate Bronzer in Gold Dust and Bronze Age ($110 each)
Sheer Highlighting Duo in Reflects Gilt ($78)
Sheer Cheek Duo in Paradise Lust ($78)
Clutch-Sized Lip Balms in six colors ($36 each)
Cream and Powder Eye Duos in Sun Worship and Young Adonis ($62 each)
Soleil Bronzing Brush ($95)

For quick reference to those who want to know what else is in the collection, other items includes the Ultimate Bronzer in Terra, Fire Lust Skin Illuminator (repackaged in the same size as the Shimmer Shots), a Bronzing Gel and the Soleil Contouring Compact in a new shade Soleil Afterglow, Soleil Eye and Cheek Palette. Some of the Soleil Blanc items have been launched in more body product formats as well.

Up first are the new Ultimate Bronzers which are the large size bronzers in a new formula. The Small Bronzing Powders have been repromoted and the colors/formula remains unchanged (swatched last year here). The larger ones come with an almost creamy texture that have a subtle luminosity and blend on the skin beautifully. I want to warn you first that they swatch on the arms and hand very orangey – but I promise on the face it looks amazing. On the skin it has a semi sheer finish but the pigment is enough to give the skin a warm slightly bronzed healthy look.

Here are the two new ones swatched compared to the original formula (which you can still find in the small size). Note that I swatched these with a heavy hand so you could see the color variation – on the face with a brush they apply a lot sheerer and look very natural.

Both Rae and me after our makeovers. We both are wearing the bronzers in Gold Dust with the Reflects Gilt Highlighter. You can see below the bronzer doesn’t look orangey on us but rather warms up the complexion. Also as a side note her skin is always glowing in the most beautiful way!

There’s a new retractable brush called the Soleil Bronzing Brush made with synthetic material. We were told at the event that Tom Ford brushes are all going to be made with synthetic materials going forward. I’ve bought quite a few of the original ones which I love so I will do some investigating to compare the new to original launches. Given how well made this new one is I have high hopes they will continue to be just as good in quality. The Soleil Bronzing Brush has a tapered tip and comes in a beautiful white and gold packaging. I love how soft it feels – it almost feels like a kitten it’s so soft!

I’m pretty much excited about everything in this collection, but if I were to pick my two favorites it would be the cheek duos. There’s a Sheer Highlighting Duo in Reflects Gilt which has two variations of beautiful gold shimmer. It has the most incredible formula like a metallic cream to powder that almost has a wet sheen. It looks incredible on the skin and just the tiniest amount dabbed with a brush gives the skin an amazing glow. I saw it on several members of the Tom Ford team, one who has fair complexion and it looked like a blush on her. On me it’s a highlighter that can be easily layered. Pigment is smooth and flawless. It’s just so so pretty. For the cheeks there’s a new Sheer Cheek Duo called Paradise Lust. This is a more coral version compared to the previously launched Bi-Coastal. Paradise Lust has an iridescent champagne gold and a satiny coral. Mixed this is perfect for summer.

All three duos swatched side by side:

For the eyes there are two new Cream and Powder Duos called Young Adonis (silvery taupe) and Sun Worship (gold). Two colors have been repromoted in Golden Peach and Naked Bronze (both long-time favorites). If you scroll up to the photo above of me and Rae, I’m wearing Young Adonis on the eyes and Rae has Sun Worship (it might be hard to tell with the lighting in the studio). So many of you wanted to know if the cream in Young Adonis was a dupe for Platinum. I thought that was the case the minute I saw it but Allan confirmed it was lighter in color (a swatch below will show the difference). Sun Worship is a yellowy gold which looked so so pretty on Rae. I find it wearable on me too but if you don’t like yellow golds, I’d say skip this one.

Swatch comparisons of the cream sides to Tom Ford Opale and Platinum (review here) and the Charlotte Tilbury Eyes to Mesmerize in Norma Jean and Marie Antoinette (review here).

Last but not least are the Clutch-Sized Lip Balms. These are the same size as the Lips and Boys and are just the cutest! The balms are super comforting and come with a dome tip. All but two of the colors look really bright but since they are balms they give the lips that really pretty soft pop of color. I love sheer brights because they give the lips a nice glow but don’t look overdone. The texture is really smooth and they glide on the lips easily. Since they are balms they won’t last as long as a lipstick but they stay put in the sense that they won’t disappear within minutes. The day I went to the event in LA I took a flight right afterwards to meet my husband in Tuscon, AZ. He was driving the moving truck while I was at the event and we met up in Arizona. I had the balm applied around 11:30 am and it stayed put and did not budge for 6 hours. The only reason it came off was because I stopped at the airport for a snack because I forgot to eat that day with the travel and moving things on my mind.

Swatches applied straight from the tube:

L’Odissea is a sheer peach
Neotropic is a pretty orange coral
Cruising is a cool sheer pink
Fathom is a cherry pink
Pure Shores is a pinkish red
La Piscine is a sheer plum

Below the colors can be intensified if you apply with a lip brush:

Swatched on bare lips straight from the tube. On me Fathom and Pure Shores almost look identical. It’s hard to tell the difference even in the tube. I cannot pick a favorite – I love them all.

Bottom line lots to love to refresh your look. As a Tom Ford lover and long-time collector I was a bit worried there would be a lot of repeats or colors that looked the same. At first glance the theme and look is very similar to past launches, but if you give them a chance you’ll find there are actually quite a few new items that are different enough to justify adding to your collection. I love the cheek duos and the new bronzer formula is really good – but given that I have a LOT of bronzer I wouldn’t call them must-haves. A the same time I really like the formula and and they are very wearable. For the eyes I love Young Adonis – I’m a taupe-silvery eye shadow lover but Golden Peach and Naked Bronze are still my favorite out of all the eye duos. The lip balms are super fun – I think everyone needs at least one even though they are the splurge they really do a good job of adding hydration to the lips in a way that doesn’t feel thick or goopy.

My top picks: Reflects Gilt, Paradise Lust, Young Adonis and any one of the Clutch-Sized Lip Balms.

You should be able to find the collection at all Tom Ford Beauty counters now. Since I’ve moved I no longer have one close to me so I ordered the eye duos online at Sephora. You can also find Tom Ford Beauty at Violet Grey, Nordstrom, Neiman Marcus, Saks Fifth Avenue, Beautylish, Net-A-Porter and Tom Ford.

Many thanks to the Tom Ford team for inviting me to the preview! Summer Soleil collection provided courtesy for review with the exception of the Cream Powder Duos which were purchased by me.

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Bronzer + Blush Sisley-Paris

Sisley-Paris Phyto-Blush Twist

March 16, 2017

I’ve been exploring more from Sisley-Paris and my latest discovery is the Phyto-Blush Twist ($68 each for .19 oz/5.5 g). This is the first I’ve tried from Sisley makeup-wise and it was love at first swatch. These Phyto-Blush Twists are twist up cream to powder sticks for the cheeks. They have a soft creamy feel but dry down to a powdery finish when you blend. As far as scent goes it has a very soft light makeup kind of scent but it’s not noticeable to me unless I actually try to smell it straight from the tube (huge plus for me). They are enriched with Camellia and Shea oils to keep the skin hydrated, yet they remain powdery feeling with a fresh look for an impressive amount of time. There are four colors, unfortunately one seems to be sold out everywhere. I received these as a press sample with one of the most fun boxes I’ve ever seen, it came with game board of tic tack toe.

1 Petal is a pale baby pink cream, it has no shimmer and even though it’s pale, it still shows up on my medium skin, I suspect if I get any darker though it will be best worn as a base for other powder blushes because alone it might be too light
2 Fushia is a bright pink, it’s very pigmented but can be sheered out for a more subtle look
3 Papaya is a coral peach, this one also can pull bright but it’s easy to blend
4 Glow (the one that’s sold out everywhere) is a sheer champagne shimmer, it’s sheer-looking on my skin because it almost seems to match my skintone (see it swatched on Beauty Professor where it looks a bit more visible with the contrast to tan skin, often times we are the same foundation shade, but right now she is darker than me)

At $68 each these are very expensive but readers have been telling me for over a year now to explore the line and have sung praises of their skincare. I’ve splurged on a couple skincare items and really loved them. For the makeup line I this is the first I’ve explored from the line. I did not expect these to last as long as they did. Right now in South Florida we have a cooler week but even back on the West Coast with cool or warm weather I found it rare that cream blushes last all day without getting dewy. I was particularly impressed with the fact that these do indeed last a long time. They look good from morning to afternoon without getting dewy. Below is how they look on my medium complexion, I’m wearing Make Up For Ever Ultra HD Invisible Cover Foundation in 125/Y315 with the Kat Von D Lock-It Setting Powder (I just discovered this and love it).

Lip colors with each blush swatch:

1 Petal is paired with Tom Ford Lips and Boys in Douglas (review here)
2 Fushia is paired with Chanel Rouge Coco Gloss in Tendresse (review soon)
3 Papaya is paired with Tom Ford Clutch-Sized Balm in Pure Shores (review tomorrow!)
4 Glow is paired with Tom Ford Lips and Boys in Bradley (review here)

I’m usually a lover of peaches and coral blushes, but with this formula I find myself drawn more to the pink ones when I’m lighter in skintone. I like mixing the light and deep pink together for an in-between shade, but really all the colors are good. Glow is a nice one for that super natural looking sheen – it matches my skintone right now so it appears to just give the skin a glow rather than a sharper highlight. If you need a visible highlight this may be too sheer for you. Since it’s sold out I did a quick swatch comparison at home to find a dupe.

NARS Sheer Pop Multiple in Navagio Beach is the most similar (review here)
Marc Jacobs Beauty Dew Drops Coconut Gel Highlighter is more golden (review soon, but I LOVE THIS)
Becca Shimmering Skin Perfector Liquid in Champagne Pop is a lot more golden (review here)
Tom Ford Shimmer Shot in Spin Spin Sugar is more glowy and paler (review here)
NARS Hot Sand Illuminator is paler but has an almost identical effect with more glow (one of my favorites, really one of the best natural looking highlighters that doesn’t look frosted but also isn’t invisible and great for normal/oily skin, review here)

Bottom line very pretty, well made, long lasting and classic. They have a very chic French kind of feel in the sense that they can be worn for a natural barely there look, yet at the same time they can definitely be layered for more color. I like that there are two colors bright or deep enough that will show up on medium to tan skin tones. The pigment is good!

You can find the Sisley-Paris Phyto-Blush Twists at all counters now. Available at Neiman Marcus, Nordstrom, Saks Fifth Avenue, Barneys New York, Bloomingdale’s and Sisley-Paris.

Have you tried these before? If not do you have any Sisley-Paris favorites?

Phyto-Blush Twists provided courtesy of Sisley for review.

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Bronzer + Blush MAC

MAC Work It Out, Eyes on MAC and Studio Quiktrik Sticks

March 15, 2017

MAC has some new collections that recently launched and I have a roundup of a few items from the Work It Out, Eyes on MAC and Quiktrik Stick launches. There are several items I’ve fallen head over heels in love with that are not to be missed – in particular the In the Flesh Eyeshadow Palette and Prep + Prime Fix+ Minis that are scented. I’ve split a few items by category with overlapping collections so here are a few notes on each launch:

Work It Out Collection has a fun mix of neutrals and bright colors for lips, eyes and cheeks. There is a new product for lips called Crystal Glaze Gloss which are sheer glossy lip products in a round pot. Also in the line are some really bright colored eyeliners and mascaras.
Eyes on MAC contains four new Eyeshadow x9 Palettes that come in a wide range of options. Also included is one of the prettiest palette of neutrals called In the Flesh which is the x15 pan format (I’m a huge fan of these for the value and color selection).
Quiktrik Sticks were launched months ago, a few shades were repromoted with the Work It Out Collection so I thought I’d swatch all the ones I have.

Up first are my favorite items the Prep + Prime Fix+ Minis that are scented. I’ve featured these on social and here recently, there are 3 scents in Coconut, Lavender and Rose. I bought backups of all of these as they’re limited-edition and I think these will be perfect for travel. They have a nice light but noticeable scent. I love to use these as setting sprays.

Next are the lip items from the Work It Out Collection. I tried out two of the Lustre Lipsticks (which is my favorite formula) in Muscu-linity which is a sheer pale beige and Testosterone which is a sheer coral. Both have a tiny bit of shimmer in them and they give the lips a glossy sheen. There is a new gloss called Crystal Glaze Gloss – these are on the sheer side. Nice Cheeks is a pretty beige but pretty much goes on clear on my pigmented lips. Ripped is a sheer red which gives the lips a healthy tint. These have that signature vanilla scent that MAC has in their lip products. Texture is on the medium thick side but not sticky. Given the vast number of glosses I have, had I been able to pick colors I would have probably skipped Nice Cheeks and opted for a deeper or brighter shade (these were press samples).

For the eyes, In the Flesh has a really pretty mix of satin, shimmer and mattes. There are 15 shades of neutrals – all of which are soft, easy to blend and well pigmented. The only color I have trouble with is Carbon which I usually do in all palettes. It’s prone to some fall out and requires a detail brush to apply otherwise it’s a chalky mess. I ordered it sight unseen and love it.

For the Eye Shadow x9 I bought Solar Glow sight unseen as well. I swatched the top two shades and found them to be extra sparkly and glittery and knew right away it was not for me so it’s going to be gifted to a friend so the rest of the palette isn’t going to be swatched on the blog.

For the Work It Out Collection there are a number of In Extreme Dimension Lash Mascaras launched in bright colors. I received a mix of the fun shades but as I only wear black, brown or plum the only one I tested was the brown one Squat It, Sugar. I think this is my first time testing this formula and it far exceeded my expectations. It defines, volumizes and holds the curl. The biggest plus for me is that it doesn’t smudge. I do wish it had a tiny bit more volume with one coat – but having to do multiple coats isn’t a deal breaker. As long as it holds the curl and doesn’t smudge – it’s a winner for me.

Last but not least are the MAC Studio Quiktrik Sticks. Some shades were repromoted with the Work It Out collection and I had a few from the original launch (I think they launched last year). These are double-ended cream blush sticks. On the hand and arm they swatch to a dewy glossy finish but on the face they aren’t as dewy. I really like these because they’re easy to blend and give a natural wash of color on the cheeks. Even though they are creams I’ve found they last a long time for a cream product. They give the skin a nice glow without settling into lines, they don’t look too frosted or shimmery and they won’t remove the base makeup if you apply on top of powder/foundation and blend. I prefer this formula to NARS Multiples and Armani Fluid Sheers for finish and also lasting power.

I like that they’re convenient in a twist up stick form, easy to blend and the colors can’t be beat. I need to check out some of the darker shades the next time I’m at the MAC store. At the moment I don’t have a favorite color – they’re all good although the Softly Does It / Tight and Tawny is probably the easiest to dupe.

That wraps it up for a little MAC roundup. I’m always amazed at how innovative MAC is – no matter how much makeup is out there, they always seem to be able to come up with something new and fun. Three things I think you should check out from these launches are the In the Flesh Palette, Mini Fix+ Sprays and at least one of the Quiktrik Sticks.

You can find these at all MAC stores counters now. I purchased most of my items in store or online at MAC and Nordstrom. Have you checked out these launches yet? What did you think?

Press samples include Muscu-linity, Squat It Sugar, Testosterone, Lavender, Nice Cheeks, Ripped and the Quiktrik Sticks. All other items purchased by me.

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Bronzer + Blush Chanel Eye Makeup Highlighters

Chanel Energies Et Puretes Makeup Collection – Spring 2017

March 14, 2017

Chanel lovers have probably had the new Chanel Energies Et Puretes Makeup Collection on their radar for months and it has finally arrived in the US. The collection features a mix of colors Chanel calls “the harmony of opposites” – we have a mix of soft and subtle colors combined with some vibrant bright shades. The collection is exclusive to Chanel.com (like previous years Le Blanc collections). I have some pieces I’ve been playing with which include:

Plisse Lumiere de Chanel Illuminating Powder ($70 for 10 g/0.35 oz)
Les Tissages de Chanel Tweed Blush in Tweed Coralline and Tweed Cherry Blossom ($48 each for 5.5 g/0.19 oz)
Les 4 Ombres in Jardins Eclatants and Jardins de Lumieres ($61 each for 2 g/0.07 oz)
Rouge Coco Shine in Rose Ravissant ($37)
Rouge Allure Gloss in Energie ($37 for 6 ml/0.20 fl 0z)
Le Vernis in Resplendissant and Bleu Pastel ($28 for 13 ml/0.4 fl oz)

Every color above is listed as limited-edition according to the Chanel website with the exception of Energie and Bleu Pastel. There are additional colors and some other products repromoted in the collection as well – so be sure to check the Energies Et Puretes page to see the full list of what’s in the collection.

Up first is the Illuminating Powder in Plisse Lumiere de Chanel. This is absolutely stunning and has a soft finely milled texture. It is shimmery and comes in a soft champagne kind of color. It has a stunning embossed texture and has a metallic sheen that has a luminous effect on the skin. The Camelia de Chanel powder by comparison is a lot more sparkly with more visible sparkles. It’s also the slightest bit more rosy. I prefer the newest Plisse Lumiere de Chanel because it has a little less glitz making it easier to wear. The texture of this new one is smooth, easy to blend, well pigmented and you can layer it for a sheer wash or a more intense kind of sheen. The Diorskin Nude Air Luminizer 001 is a bit warmer in color.

Swatch comparisons:

Next are the blushes which are the Les Tissages de Chanel Blush Duo Tweed Effect. These are ultra pigmented and on the bright side so a tiny bit really goes a long way. The intensity is almost too much to swipe your brush into the pan. I found it best to lightly tap the brush into the product and tap off the excess. Tweed Coralline is my favorite. For my complexion color right now (I’m usually around a Chanel 30) Tweed Cherry Blossom can easily give me a sunburned look because it’s so bright. One is a bright orange peach, the other is a deep pink.

Left is Tweed Cherry Blossom, right is Tweed Coralline:

The lip color options are also extremely bright. The Rouge Coco Shine in Rose Ravissant is a bright sheer hot pink. This one is pretty sheer but still has visible color. The Rouge Allure Gloss in Energie is a bright pigmented coral. It’s too bright for my comfort zone but coverage is smooth and flawless. I really love the formulas of the Rouge Allure Gloss because they stay put and apply beautifully.

The eyeshadow quads Les 4 Ombres come with excellent texture and pigment. Even though they are the round pans they are not the baked format (at least in the US). I love the look of Jardins Eclatants because it’s more wearable for me – although the colors can probably be duped with other brands. It has a soft pink shimmer, a cream shimmer, a golden sand shimmer and a bronzey color. Jardins de Lumieres has colors I really don’t know how to wear – I just layered all of them as I couldn’t really decide where to place each color or what order to apply them in. This has a soft green, a soft washed faded blue, a bright purple and a pale pink.

Two looks with the blushes, eyeshadow quads and lip products. Also both photos have the Plisse Lumiere de Chanel highlighter on the cheeks layered on top of the blushes.

Last but not least are two of the Le Vernis colors in Bleu Pastel and Resplendissant. Bleu Pastel is a semi sheer baby blue. The pigment on many pastel colors can be tricky to apply and that’s what I found with this one. It took three coats to get smooth coverage but it’s a really pretty baby blue on the fingers so I don’t mind. I think it will be fun on the toes as well for summer. Resplendissant is a bright coral pink. This one has flawless perfect coverage. I still prefer two coats but the pigment is good you can get by with one. Of course this has a similar effect to many other bright coral pinks but I still love it.

Comparisons below show that Riva is more aqua and warmer while Blue Pastel is more of a baby blue. Pigment-wise you I found there is more coverage with the Bleu Pastel even though I need 3 coats.

Overall a beautiful collection with some lovely additions to update your look for spring. If you’re one who finds Chanel blushes too light or too sheer I think you’ll really like the pigmented Tweed options this round. I suspect I’ll find them more suitable for my skintone when I get a tan. The winners for me in this collection are the nail polishes – both are really pretty. The Plisee Lumiere de Chanel is a beautiful highlighter. Given the large number of highlighters I own I wouldn’t call it a must-have as the color is similar in effect to others. Still it’s very pretty and I don’t mind having similar colors. Jardins Eclantes eyeshadow palette is another gorgeous option that you can easily wear for daily looks – it’s not the most unique but having a palette where I love all the colors is always a plus and it’s one that I think I’ll be traveling with a lot.

You can find the Energies Et Puretes Makeup Collection online at Chanel.com. Have you checked out the collection yet? What did you think?

Press samples include the Plisse Lumiere de Chanel highlighter, Tweed Cherry Blossom Blush, Bleu Pastel Le Vernis, Energie Rouge Allure Gloss, Rose Ravissant Rouge Coco Shine. Other items purchased by me.

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