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Diptyque Rosa Mundi Candle 2017 Launch

January 18, 2017

It’s a tradition for Diptyque to launch a special limited-edition rose-themed candle for Valentine’s Day every year and this year they’ve brought back Rosa Mundi. It comes in a Standard Candle ($68 for 6.5 oz), a Mini Candle ($35 for 2.4 oz) and a Scented Oval ($50). I look forward to each release for the whimsical designs of the jars as they create something beautiful and special every year. Rosa Mundi was last launched in 2014 in a white glass jar and pink tinted wax. This particular year Diptyque partnered with Antoinette Poisson, a creator and restorer of domino paper. The design has a thick label sticker as the exterior. As one who is usually really skeptical about sticker labels in general I have to say that I was pleased with the quality and placement of the labels. They are placed firmly on the jar without any visible bubbles and the paper feels like a high quality thick texture almost like wall paper.

Close up below of the mini versus standard. For those not familiar with Diptyque sizing you can see all the details like burn time and comparison for them in this post here. My personal candle care tips in this post here.

For those new to Rosa Mundi, this year’s is similar to previous launches (it has been launched twice before). It has excellent throw and the scent will fill up the rooms in my home within minutes just from opening the box. This one has a mix of damascena, the damask rose, and centifolia, the May rose. Additional notes include currant, bergamot, lychee and geranium. To me it smells like a young bright sweet rose. It’s very girly and I absolutely adore it. I haven’t kept every single used up candle jar I’ve burned although I do try my best to keep the special edition jars. I like to recycle them and keep them to store makeup brushes, pens, flowers, Q-tips, mini perfumes, rollerball perfumes, tiny skincare samples – basically anything. For those who just started getting into or noticing Diptyque, previous Valentine’s Day candles I have reviewed:

2014 Rosa Mundi shown below (reviewed here)
2015 Rosafolia (review here)
2016 Rosaviola (reviewed here)

Home Decor Details Shown Above

Chloe Attitudes Book, Love x Style x Life by Garance Dore, Capture Your Style by Aimee Song, Large Ceramic Diptyque Figuier Candle recycled. For those who have been asking about our furniture, our couch is the Rochelle Style from Crate and Barrel. Coffee table style is no longer carried but similar ones are the Switch Coffee Table or the Parsons Small Rectangular Coffee Table.

Bottom line love. By the time this post is going live I’ve already burned through a mini one. As always with these I recommend going with the bigger one even though they are more expensive. The recycle options are more versatile versus the minis. If you’re looking for a way to treat yourself either of these are great options. For those curious about the scented ovals – I’ve been gifted a few over the past years. They make lovely decorative pieces but the scent doesn’t last quite as long as I had hoped. They are also fragile – we have docile animals and they’ve knocked over quite a few things and the ovals did not survive the fall. If you have carpet they probably won’t break.

I bought mine from Nordstrom. You can also find the Rosa Mundi at Neiman Marcus, Space NK, Barneys New York, Selfridges, and Diptyque. Have you tried this one yet? If not do you have a favorite rose candle?

P.S. I’ve updated the comment system with Disqus so now you don’t have to re-log in each time you visit!

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MAC

MAC Caitlyn Jenner Collection Spring 2017

January 16, 2017

This spring MAC partnered with Caitlyn Jenner for a second beauty collaboration featuring some lovely color creations that are easy to wear for everyday. The collection has a mix of new limited-edition shades and classic repromoted colors. I have some press samples and purchased items to feature for you. Overall I think the collection is worth a look as there are some great colors that are very wearable. Nude lip lovers will rejoice as there’s a new nude neutral lipstick called Rockit! that is simply stunning. Items I have swatched for you today include:

Mineralize Skinfinish Natural ($33) in Compassion (c/o)
Veluxe Pearl Eyeshadow ($16) in Glowing Gold (c/o)
Cremesheen Lipstick in Rockit!
Cremesheen Glass ($21) in Kindness (c/o), Beautifully Bare and Tolerance
Lip Pencil ($17.50) in Soar (c/o)

Up first includes the Glowing Gold Veluxe Pearl Eyeshadow and Compassion Mineralize Skinfinish Natural. Both are rich in pigment with a smooth easy to blend texture. Glowing Gold is a stunning shimmery warm yellow gold. The color is just gorgeous. Compassion is described as a cool brown but on me it pulls more neutral warm. Right now I’m a bit too light to pull this one off (I would say I’m in between MAC NC25 and NC30 for the Studio Fix Fluid, colors swatched here) but I think they would look amazing on those darker than me. I can use these with a light hand blended and layered with other shades but alone Compassion is a bit too deep for my complexion right now. The quality, pigment and texture for both the shadow and MSF these are excellent.

For the lips, Soar Lip Pencil has been repromoted with special-edition packaging. It’s a deep rose which I find to be a classic kind of color. For lipsticks I bought RockIt! Cremesheen Lipstick as it looked like the perfect neutral nude rose and it is. I have too many neutrals for lips to count but this one is one of the best ones I think MAC has released. Even though there is a high chance that I could dupe it, I think it’s just perfect. It doesn’t wash me out, has full smooth creamy coverage and a natural sheen.

I swatched a few comparisons for reference:

MAC Cremesheen Lipstick in Shanghai Spice
Tom Ford Lips and Boys in Bradley (on lips here)
MAC Matte Lipstick in Velvet Teddy (on lips here and here)
MAC Liptensity in Smoked Almond and Doe (on lips in this post)
MAC Lustre Lipstick in Touch
MAC Lustre Lipstick in Hug Me

Soar Lipliner comparisons:

For the Cremesheen Glass, there are three options. Kindness is a shimmering gold but on the lips it’s pretty much clear. It has a smooth cushiony texture that gives the lips a pretty sheen, but if you have sheer glosses or balms I would say you could skip this one. Beautifully Bare is a neutral nude pink. It’s semi-sheer and has a creamy finish. On the lips my natural lip shows underneath just the slightest bit, but it still looks good and for me it’s not a deal breaker. Tolerance is a shimmery soft plum I find to be on the sheerer side. It gives the lips a healthy plum glow. I would have liked this one to be more opaque or in lipstick form because the color is SO PERFECT in the tube. I do like the way it looks even though it’s semi-sheer. All three are easy to wear everyday for a natural but polished look. I’ve swatched comparisons in case you have a lot of MAC and want to shop your stash. I have no regrets buying the nude and plum ones.

Comparison swatches to:

MAC Viva Glam Ariana Grande 2 (on the lips here)
Anastasia Beverly Hills Lip Gloss in Kristen, Vintage (here), Liquid Lipstick Crush
MAC Vamplify Tuned In and Anything But Demure
NARS Velvet Lip Glide in Bound (review here)
MAC Lipglass in Lovechild (on lips here)

Swatches of my MAC Caitlyn Jenner Lip picks, all on bare lips, foundation worn is NARS Velvet Matte Skin Tint in Groenland:

For those who crave more color there are two bright reds for lipsticks in Understanding and Authentic Red. In addition there are two bold eyeshadows in Malibu Bronze and Worthy. I was seriously tempted to order the other eyeshadows as they look perfect to add some color and depth to the eyes but still neutral enough to wear. I resisted though as it’s only the middle of January and new beauty launches are just getting started.

You can find the MAC x Caitlyn Jenner Collection online at maccosmetics.com or at MAC stores. Have you checked anything out yet? What did you think?

Press samples include Glowing Gold, Compassion MSF Natural, Kindness Cremesheen Glass and Soar Lip Pencil. Other items purchased by me.

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Chanel

Chanel Le Rouge Crayon de Couleur Jumbo Longwear Lip Crayons

January 13, 2017

This spring beauty season seems to the season for the lips. There are a quite a few new formulas launching in lipstick, balms, crayons and liquid lipsticks and as the ultimate lip junkie I can’t help but feel super excited. Today I have a review of the Chanel Le Rouge Crayon de Couleur Jumbo Longwear Lip Crayons ($37 each) to share and thanks to the Chanel team I have all eleven shades swatched for you. Right now they are exclusive to Chanel.com but should be launching at counters and stores soon.

The Le Rouge Crayon de Couleur is a twist up lipstick in chubby stick form with a satiny smooth finish. They have a glossy shine much like the Rouge Coco Shines and Rouge Coco Stylos, but with a creamier texture. Most of the colors offer medium-full coverage with a few swipes. They glide on easily and have a nourishing feel. If you remember many years ago Chanel had a lovely lipliner called Le Crayon Gloss. They came in a traditional skinny lip pencil format but had this amazing glossy formula. The new Le Rouge Crayon de Couleur reminds me a little of those in the sense that these pencils have a lovely natural shine. I love sheer glossy lipsticks but often wish most had a bit more pigment with the same texture. I almost feel like these Jumbo Longwear Lip Crayons were made for me because it’s almost everything I could want in a lipstick. There’s no detectable scent. In terms of lasting power they stay put a long time and don’t slide off or fade quickly. However due to the glossy emollient nature of these you will see color transfer to cups if you drink anything.

The colors are just perfect:

First a look at other Chanel lip products for scale: Rouge Allure, Rouge Coco Stylo (all shades swatched here) and Rouge Coco Shine in Boy:

The 11 colors shown below with descriptions:

Nude No. 1 is a nude beige with medium coverage
Rose Violine No. 2 is a perfect soft beige rose cream with full coverage
Rose Clair No. 3 is a shimmery cool light rose pink with medium-full coverage
Rouge Corail No. 4 is a orangey red with full coverage
Rouge No. 5 is a classic red with full coverage
Framboise No. 6 is a strawberry pink red with full coverage
Fuschia No. 7 is a hot cool pink with full coverage
Cassis No. 8 is a deep plum, due to the contrast with my lip tone I found this one a bit patchy
Beige Rose No. 9 is a light beige pink with medium coverage
Tangerine No. 11 is a hot orange with full coverage
Carmin No. 12 is a deep red

Another photo for scale, they are on the short side compared to the regular Chanel lip liners. On the nails is Chanel Camelia Le Vernis.

Individual lip swatches on bare lips, for skintone reference I’m wearing Anastasia Beverly Hills Foundation Stick in Warm Natural.

Swatches all side by side:

Bottom line: right up my alley. I do think they are on the pricey side given the small size. At this time I don’t have the exact product weight as the pencils arrived as press samples without boxes. That being said I love all the colors. Cassis is the only one that I had issues with – it can be fixed with a lip liner as a base to help smooth out the color. It applies well but on me went on slightly patchy – not a deal breaker as it wears beautifully. By comparison the other colors apply flawlessly. Nude and Beige Rose are the sheerest out of the bunch but still offer full coverage with a bit more swiping back and forth. As I just received them and did swatches as quickly as I could I can’t report on whether or not they offer long lasting moisture. However they do have a nice emollient feel and my lips have experienced no peeling or drying even with all the swatching and wiping. If you like a glossy lip with pigment I think you’ll really like these. They are pricey but the formula is excellent and I’m in love with every single color.

You can find the Chanel Le Rouge Crayon de Couleurs online now at Chanel.com. Right now Tangerine and Carmin are listed as limited-edition colors.

Jumbo Crayons provided courtesy of Chanel for review. Camelia Le Vernis featured was also a press sample from last year. All other items featured from my own collection.

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Charlotte Tilbury

Charlotte Tilbury Quick ‘N’ Easy 5 Minute Makeup Sets

January 11, 2017

Charlotte Tilbury launched four beauty sets called the Quick N Easy 5 Minute Makeup Looks ($75 each). These are designed to be multi-tasking sets for the woman on-the-go who wants to enhance her natural beauty with a few simple products. I think these are great options for those who are new to the line and want a nice introduction to her brand. Charlotte Tilbury products are quite luxurious and on the pricey side so it can be a bit overwhelming to decide where to start. Before her line launched in the US I placed an order sight unseen from her UK site and it took me hours of research to pick a handful of items. I’ve been really impressed with almost everything I have tried from her brand with color, foundation and skincare (one of the only items I don’t love is her mascara because it smudges on me). I will say that if you already own a lot from her line you may want to take a close look at the content listings before splurging as these sets contain existing permanent items. Otherwise these are great!

There are four options to choose from. Breaking down the price points of the individual items in the set show that most of them give you a bit of a price break rather than buying the products separately. In addition most of them contain 1-2 miniatures which are great to try out without having to splurge on the full size. On the claim that these are “5 minute sets” I will say that on their own they are. I tested each one and was able to get a complete look with each set in 5 minutes. However the pre-work for me with skincare and base usually takes me around 5 minutes, so total get ready time for my face with these sets is 10 minutes or less. But just with the sets alone yes you can definitely get a complete look in 5 minutes or less as there are a few select products that are easy to apply on the go or when you’re in a rush.

Up first is the Daytime Chic Look which contains a mini Wonderglow (review here), Mini Legendary Lashes Mascara (review here), Classic Eyeliner in Audrey, and the Beach Stick in Formentera (reviewed here). This gave the most natural look for me. Formentera is a very dewy neutral rose brown color you can wear on the cheeks or lips. It’s emollient but not overly greasy. Finish is sheer but buildable to a sheer-to-medium finish. If you need color this may be too sheer for you.

Wonderglow is swatched heavily in all the swatches but when you apply it on the face it disappears into a very smooth sheer subtle glow. I like mixing it in with my foundation to add a bit of soft luminosity. I absolutely love that it has a yellow tint to make the skin look youthful and radiant versus the pink tints you see in most liquid luminizers.

Next is the Natural Glowing Look which contains a mini Wonderglow, mini Legendary Lashes Mascara, Matte Revolution Lipstick in Very Victoria (reviewed here and here), Beach Stick in Moon Beach (review here).

The Smokey Eye Evening Look has one of my favorite nude pink lipsticks Penelope Pink (also reviewed here and here). Other items in the set are a mini mascara, the Color Chameleon in Black Diamonds, Rock N Kohl Eye Liner in Bedroom Black.

Last but not least is the Red Carpet Party Look. It’s simple but sometimes all you need to dress up a look for a party or hot date is a good red lipstick and a tiny bit of liner. This one has a mini Wonderglow, Rock N Kohl Liner in Barbarella Brown, Lip Cheat Lipliner in Kiss N Tell, Matte Revolution in Red Carpet Red.

Being the Charlotte Tilbury fan that I am I already own virtually everything in the sets. I don’t need duplicates so I swatched what I had from my own stash and I’m giving away the 4 sets to one lucky reader! Giveaway is open to US and Canada only, entry details below at the bottom of the post. Here are all four sets on me. Foundation worn is the Charlotte Tilbury Magic Foundation in 5 and 6 mixed together. Knit sweater pullover by Soft Joie.

One last look:

I think these are beautiful starter sets that make for a nice entry to the Charlotte Tilbury beauty line. Each set comes with a zipped pouch which is super cute. For me they aren’t must-haves since I already own virtually everything in these sets so I’m happy to give them away to 1 lucky winner. All you have to do is enter via the widget below. Note it’s open to US and Canada only and you must be 18 years or older to qualify. One winner will be selected at random via the widget on 1/19 and contacted by e-mail from me to receive 1 of each set featured in this post (so 4 sets total). Please refer to the terms and conditions in the widget for all the details.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

You can find the Charlotte Tilbury Quick N Easy sets online at Charlotte Tilbury as well as at all other Charlotte Tilbury retailers and counters. I do believe the sets are limited-edition but each item (except for the bags) are available to purchase individually in the permanent lineup.

Many thanks to the Charlotte Tilbury team for sending these sets for review consideration.

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Fragrance Lips MAC

MAC Shadescents Review and Swatches

January 5, 2017

Over the holiday season MAC launched a Shadescents Collection with six perfumes inspired by six of their most iconic lip colors. They re-launched the lipsticks with special limited-edition packaging in tinted caps to match the lipsticks themselves along with color-coordinated fragrances. The concept is just genius and as soon as I opened up the package I just couldn’t wait to see what Crème d’ Nude or Velvet Teddy would smell like in perfume form. The scents are all Eau de Parfums and run at $57 each for 50 ml/1.7 fl oz. The Lipsticks are $17 each for 3 g / 0.1 oz with special edition packaging.

The six options include Heroine (purple, matte), Ruby Woo (deep red, retro matte), Lady Danger (bright coral red, matte), Candy Yum-Yum (bright neon pink,matte), Velvet Teddy (neutral nude, matte) and Crème d’Nude (pale beige, cremesheen).

Crème d’Nude Lipstick is one I could never wear alone and still can’t. It’s more of a layering color for me whether I mix it with another deeper lipstick, gloss or liner. The Crème d’Nude Scent is described as an amber velvet musk which I find accurate. This one is my favorite and the only one I can see myself wearing on a regular basis. It’s almost like a daytime version of Elizabeth and James Nirvana Black. The throw is extremely strong and lasts all day from morning to late afternoon without fading.

Velvet Teddy is a classic nude lip color. I was interested to see what it would smell like in perfume form. The scent is described as oriental amber with wild honey and creamy musk. This is definitely a sweet honey like scent with a bit of spice. If you like honey scents this will be right up your alley. The spice notes are prominent giving it a velvety feel. On my skin it pulls very strong and very rich. This is my second favorite.

Candy Yum-Yum is a neon pink in color, bright and vibrant. The scent is extremely sweet described as fruity floral gourmand with pink guava. It’s distinctly sweet and when I spritzed it I was 100% sure I would not be able to wear it. Surprisingly on my skin it works for a fun and pretty scent. I still don’t think it’s really my cup of tea due to the sweetness but the times I wore it I was pleasantly surprised.

Lady Danger is a bright coral red. The scent is described as a woody oriental floral with patchouli. It’s very spicy and masculine with a strong incense kind of vibe. It’s too dramatic and rich for my taste. The scent is definitely a head-turner as described.

Ruby Woo is described as a woody floral. This has leather notes that makes it even deeper and more dramatic than Lady Danger. It’s rich, dark and deep – not something I would wear although I do think it could make an interesting home scent in candle form.

Left is Ruby Woo (darker shade), right is Lady Danger:

Lady Danger Lipstick worn below on a full look, foundation shade worn is Studio Fix Fluid in NC30 which is just the slighted bit too dark on my skin as it pulls really olive but many of you have asked to see my MAC shade on my face. On the cheeks is Global Glow Mineralize Skinfinish, on the eyes is Honeylust Eyeshadow. You can see swatches and comparisons of NC25, 30, 35 and 37 to other foundation brands for reference in this Tom Ford Face Collection post here:

Heroine is a purple cream lipstick. It’s not one I had ever looked at before as it’s more dramatic and purples really aren’t my thing. The scent is described as woody leather with a primal feel. It’s the most masculine scent out of the lineup, definitely not something I would wear. Although after spritzing it in our house as a room spray in a small area the dry down is interesting and actually pleasant.

Overall a really interesting concept. I do think the creators of this collection managed to capture the lipstick in a scent that made sense. Scents are so personal and everyone has different tastes so I do not think these will be everyone’s cup of tea. My favorite is Crème d’Nude but my husband is not a fan of it on me. If you’re near a MAC Store I’d recommend you definitely give these a look. They’re worth checking out and it’s always fun to play at the freestanding stores. If anything I love the special edition packaging of the lip colors – I’m tempted to buy another Velvet Teddy although I will probably resist because the lipsticks usually last a very long time. The color-coordinated caps and black base are so sleek and pretty!

The collection is available at MAC Cosmetics. Have you checked it out yet? What did you think?

Many thanks to MAC for sending these for review!

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Chanel

Chanel Coco Codes for Spring 2017

January 3, 2017

Happy New Year! I’m excited for the new year, new opportunities and new adventures. My first review of the year starts out on a positive note with a post on the Chanel Coco Codes for spring. I ordered a few pieces from spring 2017 sight unseen. Based on the online stock photos I did not really expect to be wowed as the colors looked pretty but fairly basic and almost boring. After extensive testing I am pleased to report that everything far exceeded my expectations! The Coco Codes collection might appear to consist of standard color options but everything performed really well. Quality and textures are great true to usual Chanel quality standards and as a whole, the collection works well for a pretty updated modern but classic look. What I ordered:

Coco Code Blush Harmony ($70)
Joues Contraste Powder Blush Elegance #370 ($45)
Les 4 Ombres Codes Elegants #274 ($61)
Les 4 Ombres Codes Subtils #278 ($61)
Rouge Allure Velvet Libre #62 ($37)
Le Vernis Nail Color Blanc White #548 ($28)
Le Vernis Nail Color Beige Beige #556 ($28)

The cheek colors for this collection run on the neutral warm side on me both the Coco Code Blush Harmony Quad and Elegance Blush look very similar on me, the first is slightly deeper and more luminous because of the red and caramel brown tones. The Coco Code Blush Harmony is the most beautiful item in the collection. It’s a quad with a mix of satin and soft mattes that you can swirl for a warm peachy bronzed cheek. The colors can be applied individually but since each portion is on the small side you’ll need a small detail brush to pick up one color at a time. The colors swirled together give a naturally luminous glow – no frost or overpowering shimmer. They blend nicely for a smooth finish that is easy to layer.

Elegance Blush is a soft peachy nude. It has a slight sheen to it and I’m pleased to find that the one sold in the US is indeed the regular US version versus the baked option you see in other countries. For those not familiar with Chanel blushes there are two versions, most of the time the ones released in the US have a different finely milled perfect smooth texture. Countries outside the US receive blushes that are baked, pull very powdery and chalky on my skin and don’t show up as well.

There are two eyeshadow quads Les 4 Ombres and both are excellent in texture and pigment. They come in the round pans but aren’t the baked version. They are similar in texture to that of Les 4 Ombres in Tisse Rivoli and Vendome – almost creamy in texture with rich beautiful shimmer pigment but still powders. Codes Elegants is the golden option which pulls on the yellow side but is still very wearable even though I tend to prefer more neutral gold colors for my olive skin. Codes Subtils is prettier in person than online stock photos show. It has a unique and pretty mix of soft pink, salmon, bronze and brown.

For the lips I picked one lip color in the Rouge Allure Velvet formula called Libre. It’s been a while since I’ve paid attention to the lip velvets launched so I’m not sure if it’s a new or repromoted shade. It’s new to me and is a perfect flawless neutral rose. It has a velvet matte finish but still looks like it has a very subtle luminous sheen to it – perfect for me as pure matte lips often make my lips look dry. I would have liked to see some glossimers or rouge allure glosses for the launch but if you follow sneak peeks on social it appears they are reformulating the formula sometime in the spring. Back to the lipstick, Libre has smooth medium to full coverage with a moisturizing feel. It feels comforting on the lips and lasting power is pretty good.

Some comparison swatches, to me it looks almost identical in color to MAC Liptensity in Smoked Almond:

MAC Liptensity in Smoked Almond and Toast and Butter – swatched here
Charlotte Tilbury K.I.S.S.I.N.G Lipstick in Stoned Rose – swatched here
Tom Ford Lips and Boys 2016 in Christopher – swatched here
Chanel Rouge Coco Lipstick in Mademoiselle – swatched here
Tom Ford Lips and Boys 2016 in Ashton – swatched here
MAC Velvet Teddy Lipstick – swatched here

Last but not least are the Le Vernis nail polishes. I bought two shades, one is Blanc White which is a sheer white cream color. I need three coats to get the color to show up. I think it makes the hands look polished and clean and even though I know it’s supposed to be a sheer I do wish the pigment was a bit more opaque. Beige Beige is a warm beige that looks almost tan. It’s not the most unique color but I like that it doesn’t have too much of a yellow base like some beige colors do which can make olive skin look sallow or sickly. This one seems to have enough peach to give it some life. Coverage on this one is perfect and I get full smooth coverage with two coats.

How the cheek colors will vary depending on your skintone – I found both the face quad and blush have a similar effect on my skin so I wouldn’t call them both must-haves. The blush is more subtle and lighter in color for a more natural look while the cheek quad has more pigment and more color. I don’t favor one over the other however the Coco Code Blush Harmony is more unique and more versatile in the event you want to use individual colors on the eyes or to highlight the cheeks.

Quick look with the Coco Code Blush, Codes Elegants Quad and Libre Rouge Allure Velvet:

For the quads I was really surprised by how wearable Codes Elegants is – especially since it has yellow gold tones that I find usually clash with my already yellow-olive skin. I do favor the other option Codes Subtils for the color selection – the shades are just so pretty and pigmented. If there were two things I would pass on they would be the nail colors I picked – they’re nice and pretty neutrals. Great for conservative work environments for for those who want a natural polished look, but they aren’t must-haves to me. That being said I do think finding a good beige can be challenging, so Beige Beige wins for being wearable without looking too sallow or yellow. Have you checked out the collection yet? What did you think?

You can find the collection now online and in stores. Most of the pieces are limited-edition. I bought my pieces online from Chanel and Nordstrom. Also available at Neiman Marcus and Saks Fifth Avenue.

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Armani Lips

Giorgio Armani Lip Magnets Part II: 503, 504, 505, 506 and 507

December 28, 2016

I featured six of the Armani Lip Magnets back in October of this year and many of you asked for more swatches of the colors that fall in the neutral zone. For those who haven’t tried these yet the Armani Lip Magnets are a unique weightless non-drying liquid lipstick that offer beautiful long lasting coverage. I’m more of a gloss or sheer lipstick kind of person for texture and finish. Even though liquid lipsticks last a lot longer most formulas tend to look dry, too opaque, flat or darken drastically on my lips. The Armani Lip Magnets are hands down the best in formula for a natural looking liquid lipstick that dries down to a soft matte finish without that dried-out look. Unfortunately for those who only wear light neutrals or nudes all the colors pull on the dark or deep side. Even the ones that fall in the “natural” category are all rather deep. The color in the tubes can look a little bit misleading in my opinion. Some of the shades look like they could be true neutrals but once you see them on the applicator and swatch you’ll find the colors are a bit on the deeper spectrum of color. Still there are some lovely shades to chose from. I’m not opposed to having a rosy lip or coral pop of color on the lips even though I tend to gravitate towards lighter neutrals. The formula is so good I think it’s definitely worth a try. I do hope Armani expands the color range into lighter territory – the formula is so unique and the perfect liquid lip texture/finish for the person who just doesn’t like the dried opaque feel or look of the traditional liquid lipstick. You can read my original review on formula in this post here. Quick take: it’s long-lasting, unscented, has a unique applicator for precise lining and the ability to fill in the lips, has full coverage, feels weightless and is non-drying.

I bought five more shades to review, I searched a number of websites and it appears 506 and 507 are on backorder until January at most retailers. You may still have luck finding it at your counters.

503 is described as a reddish peach, on me it’s a bright coral
504 is probably the lightest and most neutral out of the current lineup, but it pulls peachy and
505 is a medium-bright rose pink
506 is a soft natural rose (also reviewed in the original post), depending on your lip color it may pull more pink or rose, on me it’s a slightly deeper rose
507 is the perfect mauve plum for me, most mauves are either too red, too grey or too purple, this one is PERFECT!

For skintone reference, Tom Ford Waterproof Foundation in Bisque + NARS Powder Foundation in Punjab to set worn, all lip colors swatched on bare lips, no liner or base used:

The Lip Magnet lip swatches lined up side by side:

My favorite for color is still #506 with #507 tied for my perfect plum. Formula-wise these are among the best I’ve tried in liquid lipsticks because they have a soft matte finish, they don’t dry out the lips, they have a nourishing feel but don’t have any slip, they last a remarkably long time, they don’t budge and coverage is perfect. For those who don’t like scented lip products the fact that these are unfragranced is a huge plus. If Armani expands the formula to include a few lighter shades I would be thrilled. Bottom line a winning formula.

I hope you found these swatches helpful! You can find the Armani Lip Magnets for $38 each. There are 18 colors total at the moment. Available in stores and online at Giorgio Armani Beauty, Sephora, Nordstrom, Neiman Marcus, Saks Fifth Avenue and Barneys New York.

Have you tried these yet? What did you think?

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