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Edward Bess Eye Makeup

Edward Bess Earth Tones Natural Eyeshadow Palette, Perfect Line Every Time, Big Wow Full Brow Pomade and Wish Granted Mascara

October 27, 2016
Edward Bess Earth Tones + New Eye Launches

Edward Bess has launched quite a few new things including some classic additions in eye makeup along with three new perfumes. Today I’m reviewing the eye makeup – all true to Edward Bess style where makeup is classic to enhance your features in a natural way but make them look better. I got a sneak preview back in September at Neiman Marcus while visiting his counter. He swatched his new Perfect Line Every Time Liner on the back of his hand and once it sets it does not budge. If you are able to visit any of his counters while he’s in store (all locations listed here) I highly recommend you do – you will be in for a treat.

In today’s review lineup:

All eye products are available at Net-A-Porter. The liner and mascara are also available at Neiman Marcus and Bergdorf Goodman. Eyeshadow, liner and mascara are available at QVC (some prices vary with sets).
Edward Bess Earth Tones Neiman Marcus Beverly Hills
Up first is my favorite item the Earth Tones Naturally Enhancing Eyeshadow Palette. It has five natural shades that are very natural but not invisible. The colors look like they run neutral-cool in the palette but on my skin they have a mix of neutral, cool and warm. Colors have the most beautiful finely milled kind of shimmer and texture is buttery soft for smooth natural application. If you like bold full pigment kinds of shades you may find this too natural. But for the person who wants a very natural look for the eyes and a palette that is easy to wear for everyday this one is a great one.
Edward Bess Earth Tones Eyeshadow Palette

Colors are a pale cool white shimmer, satiny light pink mauve, medium warm plum shimmer, shimmering grey taupe mauve, deeper cool-toned purple. Swatched below:

Quick eye look with all colors on the eyes:

Edward Bess Earth Tones swatched

I couldn’t find anything quite like the colors in this palette from what I own. I pulled the Dior Eye Reviver Palette reviewed here which has a similar effect in the natural finish but runs cooler and has a sheerer finish with some of the shades.

Edward Bess Earth Tones vs Dior Eye Reviver Palette
Edward Bess Earth Tones
Next are the Perfect Line Every Time Liner in Deep Deep Black and Wish Granted Magic in a Bottle Mascara in Onyx. The Perfect Line liner is a deep true black with a twist up style applicator and smudge brush at the end. It does indeed last a very long time (all day on me) with out smudging or budging once you apply and let it set. It glides on easily without any tugging and gives a rich deep black color. It does set quickly so if you need to smudge or blend with an applicator I recommend you do so quickly.
The Wish Granted Mascara is a true black mascara. It’s described as a long lasting clump free mascara to add volume. I am extremely picky with mascara as I have straight lashes that require curling. Most mascaras smudge, don’t hold the curl, or flake. This one from Edward Bess did not smudge and there was no clumping so on those points it’s a winner. For me I have a serious need for volume and this one can be built in two layers for volume but I found it didn’t give me as much drama as some other formulas. 
Edward Bess Perfect Line Every Time and Wish Granted Mascara

Perfect Line in action at Edward’s counter:

Edward Bess Perfect Line Every Time

Last but not least are three brow products called Big Wow Full Brow Pomade . It comes in three colors, Light Taupe, Medium Taupe and Rich. I can use either Medium Taupe or Rich for my coloring and it’s really really good. It is an easy to blend natural looking brow product. It has a whipped formula that is lightweight and has the ability to coat hairs or fill in sparse areas. As one who finds I can’t wear any brow products with red, I really like these color options. He has a Dual Ended Brow Brush for these, but I find you can use any angled brush. I tried with the MAC 266 and Wayne Goss Brush 21 and both worked really well.
These look natural and are easy to use. Thumbs up.

Edward Bess Big Wow Full Brow Pomade

Edward Bess Big Wow Full Brow Pomade
One last quick look from my visit to his counter at Neiman Marcus Beverly Hills. Many of you often ask what my natural lip color looks like, here’s a photo of me without anything on the lips – it was after lunch and everything had worn off. To the right is his Big Kiss Lipstick.

Bottom line some solid additions to Edward Bess’s line. I really love his Earth Tones Eyeshadow Palette and the new Brow Pomades and as a natural-neutral makeup lover these are just perfect. I’ll have a dedicated post on his fragrances soon. One briefly reviewed in my Fall Fragrance Loves for Him and Her post if you want a quick peek.

All eye products are available at Net-A-Porter. The liner and mascara are also available at Neiman Marcus and Bergdorf Goodman. Eyeshadow, liner and mascara are available at QVC (some prices vary with sets). All items also available from his website Edward Bess.

Have you tried these yet? If yes what did you think?
Many thanks to Edward for keeping me stocked on his latest and greatest.
21 Comments
MAC

MAC Nutcracker Sweet Collection, Brush Kits, Mini Kits, Bag Sets and Palettes for Holiday 2016

October 26, 2016
MAC Nutcracker Sweet - Collection Review via The Beauty Look Book

 

This year MAC Nutcracker Sweet collection is one of the most whimsical and fun collections for the holiday season. Everything is packaged in this eye-catching bright pink/gold/purple casing which is just so pretty. There are a lot of products in this launch – it’s massive! I have a mix of press samples and purchased items that I’m reviewing today. MAC has pretty much covered everything with this launch so there literally is something for everyone. Items are split into the following categories:
Nutcracker Sweet Collection
Nutcracker Sweet Brush Kits
Nutcracker Sweet Palettes

Nutcracker Sweet Lip and Eye Bags
Nutcracker Sweet Retro Matte and Mineralize Kits
Nutcracker Sweet Mini Kits
Nutcracker Viva Glam Sets

I have a peek at something from five of the categories. Up first is the Nutcracker Sweet Collection consists of individual full-sized items that come in the pink, gold and purple packaging. Most of the items are new/limited-edition colors but there are a few repromotes in eyeliner and pigments. My picks:
  • Magic Dust Powder in Yum Yum Yum (c/o) is a soft sheer pink that gives the cheeks the prettiest hint of pink, it is on the sheer to medium side and the shimmer is very very fine so on the cheeks it’s more of a satin finish
  • Magic Dust Powder in Sweet Vision is a more pigmented shimmering peach gold powder
  • Magic Dust Eyeshadow in Forward March is a soft warm gold shimmer with excellent texture and pigment, it’s smooth and easy to blend
  • Magic Dust Eyeshadow in Pretty Dainty (c/o) is a warm shimmering pinky peach color, also smooth and medium in pigment but buildable
  • Eye Kohl in Prunella (c/o) is a repromote, it’s a classic shimmering deep plum
  • Matte Lipstick in So Good For You (c/o) looks red in the tube but is actually a pink fuchsia, with dark mattes I have a hard time applying evenly straight from the tube so I often need a brush with colors like this, as a matte formula it has a super opaque texture that hugs the lips
Everything performs really well and the quality is on point. I love the Magic Dust powders – they come with the prettiest embossed star patterns and I think both of the colors are very wearable.

 

MAC Nutcracker Sweet - So Good For You

 

MAC Nutcracker Sweet - So Good For You

 

MAC Nutcracker Sweet - So Good For You

 

Face Compacts are probably my favorite of the item and have sold out online just restocked at MAC. They have a unique hybrid cream/powder texture which is stiffer and harder than a normal powder but they meld in with the skin nicely, don’t emphasize pores and last a long time on the skin. I can’t pick a favorite – they are both really good, but if I had to pick one, the Copper Face Compact is just incredibly beautiful. I use a regular blush brush like MAC 129 to apply.
  • Peach Face Compact has Extra Dimension Skinfinish in Tutu and Extra Dimension Blush in At Dusk is a light cool champagne shimmer and soft pink shimmer
  • Copper Face Compact (c/o) has Extra Dimension Skinfinish in Whisper of Gilt and Extra Dimension Blush in Pleasure Model is a shimmering gold and warm coppery peach
Note these are applied with a very heavy hand in the swatch but they are easy to blend for a softer look. The shimmer blends out to a very soft glow without the garish frost.

MAC Nutcracker Sweet - Peach and Copper Face Compacts

 

MAC Nutcracker Sweet - Peach and Copper Face Compacts

 

Eye Compacts are mirrored compacts with 9 eyeshadows and a dual-ended brush. I found the names odd as they didn’t really match the color theme of shadows inside. The pigment and colors performed well like individual shadows for the most part with the exception of a few shades in the Warm Eye Compact. Texture in the Warm Palette seemed a bit stiffer and harder in general.
  • Warm Eye Compact (c/o) left to right includes:
    • Filament (lustre) is a pale ivory pigmented lustre
    • Whirling is a (lustre) is a pigmented silvery taupe frost
    • Era (satin) is usually a great soft matte neutral in the full size, this one is a bit chalky and stiff to apply
    • Woodwinked (veluxe pearl) is a medium warm brown shimmer
    • Unwind (veluxe pearl) is an olive-gold shimmer
    • Lady Fingers (matte) is a matte yellow with medium pigment
    • Twelve Chimes (lustre) a sheer stiff taupe grey brown with a bit of shimmer, finish is also sheer unless you apply with a dense brush over a base
    • Showstopper (matte) is a matte sheer stiff matte cool brown, pigment is horrible on this one – I had to swatch with a very heavy hand
    • Beyond Gorgeous (veluxe pearl) is a stiff sheer black with gold flecks which is odd for a veluxe pearl formula, it’s good when applied with a tiny detail or liner brush, but if you use a larger brush finish is sheer and patchy
  • Smoky Eye Compact was one I had my eye on so I ordered it online sight unseen, for me this works better for my coloring and also has fewer lustre eyeshadows which I’m not a fan of. The colors inside include:
    • Too-dle-oo (frost) is a soft champagne shimmer
    • Deception (frost) is a medium cool taupe bronze shimmer
    • Sweet Dreams (matte) is a soft latte brown
    • Kid (veluxe) is a warm brown matte
    • Dewdrop (lustre) is a shimmering peachy pink
    • Cake and Biscuits (matte) is a warm brown
    • Swiss Chocolate (matte) is a warm matte deep brown
    • Dance in the Dark (matte) is a dusty cool matte brown
    • Licorice Lane (matte) is a warmer deep brown
In general the Smoky Eye Compact shades performed better than the Warm Eye Compact colors for me. The brushes in both compacts are well made and shaped.

MAC Nutcracker Sweet - Warm and Smoky Eye Compacts

Lip Bags come in several variations. I have the Nude Lip Bag (c/o) which includes all neutrals and they are all just perfect:

  • Prolongwear Lip Pencil in In Control is a warm pinky brown neutral
  • Vamplify in Tuned In is a medium pink nude with a hint of shimmer it has full coverage, long lasting power and a very nice shine
  • Cremesheen Lipstick in Magic Spell is a cool pink neutral with a lovely sheen

 

MAC Nutcracker Sweet Nude Lip Bag

 

MAC Nutcracker Sweet Nude Lip Bag

 

MAC Nutcracker Sweet Nude Lip Bag - Magic Spell Lipstick

 

MAC Nutcracker Sweet Nude Lip Bag - Vamplify Tuned In

 

MAC Nutcracker Sweet Nude Lip Bag - Prolongwear Lip Pencil In Control

The Sweet Plum Eye Bag (c/o) has four color-coordinated soft plum colors in a zipped bag, the colors are really pretty for the plums:

  • Teckhnakohl in Purple Dash is a soft shimmering light plum color
  • Paint Pot in Stormy Pink is a mauve pink matte – these make great eyeshadow bases
  • Extra Dimension Eyeshadow in Smoky Mauve is a frosted soft mauve color
  • False Lashes Mascara in False Black is a black mascara, it doesn’t smudge or flake, but for me it doesn’t hold the curl as much as other formulas do

 

MAC Nutcracker Sweet Plum Eye Bag - The Beauty Look Book

 

MAC Nutcracker Sweet Plum Eye Bag - The Beauty Look Book

 

There are a number of mini sets for lips and eyes. I received the Nude Patentpolish Mini Set (c/o). As I already own all but one of the colors I didn’t re-swatch this one to review as it’s going to be re-gifted.
  • Pleasure’s All Mine (review here)
  • Revved Up is a shimmering peachy color
  • It’s Really Me (review here)
    French Kiss (on lips here)

 

MAC Nutcracker Sweet Nude Patentpolish Minis - The Beauty Look Book

 

Last but not least is the Brush Set in the Basic option (c/o) which includes mini short handled versions of 190SE Foundation Brush, 129SE Powder/Blush Brush, 213SE Fluff Brush, 209SE Eye Liner Brush and 316SE Lip Brush. As I already own a number of short handled brushes I did not test this one out but to the touch, they are soft and cut evenly. This is going to be gifted to a friend.

 

MAC Nutcracker Sweet Basic Brush Set - The Beauty Look Book

 

Overall lots of great options for holiday gifting. Everything is covered from lips, cheeks, eyes and brushes. The highlights for me are all the cheek items including the Magic Dust Powders and Face Compact Duos. The Nude Lip Bag falls close behind and even though I already own one of the colors, I think the lipstick is just perfect. Two more items I am ordering for gifts are the Sweet Nude Lipstick Kit and Sweet Nude Lip Gloss Kit as both are $35 each and great little sets.

All the items are limited-edition so I would recommend gathering your list sooner than later and order because a few items have already sold out. You can find the collection in stores this week. Online at MAC, Nordstrom, Saks Fifth Avenue, Bloomingdale’s and Macy’s.

 

 

Did you check out anything yet? What were your picks? If not what’s on your wishlist?

Press samples included with c/o listed next to the names. Other items purchased by me.

5 Comments
Chanel

Chanel Collection Libre Holiday 2016 Picks

October 21, 2016
The Beauty Look Book Collection Libre Picks

Many of us have been wondering for a few weeks whether or not the Collection Libre Synthetic de Chanel would be the holiday collection or if it was a mini launch. We now know that it is indeed the official Chanel Holiday 2016 launch this year. The pieces definitely have a unique take on a winter holiday theme with a mix of a cool-toned silvery smokey eyes, black liner, and an interesting mix for nails and lips. I ordered these sight unseen and have yet to see the collection in person in stores. I’m happy with all but one of my picks. What I hauled:

Velvet Nail Color in Pink Rubber
Le Vernis in Liquid Mirror and Hyperrose Glass
Rouge Allure Gloss in Super Coral and Super Nude

The Beauty Look Book - Chanel Holiday 2016

I bought the 3 nail polishes because to date I don’t think I’ve skipped a seasonal nail polish launch in many years. Since the reformulation I have yet to try all the new permanent colors, but for seasonal collection launches I still collect them. We have Velvet Nail Color in Pink Rubber (limited-edition), Le Vernis in Liquid Mirror and Le Vernis in Hyperrose Glass (limited-edition).

The Beauty Look Book - Chanel Velvet Nail Color Pink Rubber, Liquid Mirror and Hyperrose Glass

Pink Rubber is the item that I’m not thrilled with mainly because I don’t like matte or velvety nails. My first instinct when I put it on was “I hate it” – the matte finish is just something I can’t get into. This one is such an interesting concept though as it dries to a gel-like rubber matte finish. Coverage is just perfection with two coats though which I find very rare for pale pastel polishes. Most apply like a streaky mess and require 3 coats to smooth out or are just very sheer. The exceptions are Dior and Tom Ford from my experience. The first coat of Pink Rubber can be a streaky mess but the second coat fixes everything to a perfect soft baby pink.

I think it photographs well but in real life it just looked odd to me. The finish is something you have to see in person to truly understand the velvet finish. I think it can easily be fixed by adding a glossy top coat.
The Beauty Look Book - Chanel Velvet Nail Color Pink Rubber

Liquid Mirror is a metallic silver which is beautiful but I’m just not into silvery nails right now. This is a one-coat wonder but I always apply colors with two coats. Brush strokes are visible but the formula is very good so you can smooth it out as seen below. For a metallic almost chrome color I think performance, pigment and formula are all excellent.
The Beauty Look Book - Chanel Liquid Mirror

Hyperrose Glass is an interesting shade as it’s on the sheer side. It feels like it almost has a transparent base with bright pink shimmer particles suspended. I do wish this one had full coverage as what you see in the bottle is simply gorgeous. It’s shown below with 3 coats. I suspect a fourth coat can add more color.
The Beauty Look Book - Chanel Hyperrose Glass

One of my beauty friends who has also been a long-time Chanel fan sent me a link to British Beauty Blogger’s post on Chanel Christmas layering Hyperrose Glass over Liquid Mirror on a nail wheel. I would have never thought to do that but gave it a whirl on the fingers. It has that 90’s duo-chrome vibe which I think is so interesting but don’t know that I’d wear. Below is one coat of Liquid Mirror and one coat of Hyperrose Glass.

The Beauty Look Book - Chanel Liquid Mirror and Hyperrose Glass

Next are the lip picks which include the Rouge Allure Gloss in Super Coral and Super Nude (both limited-edition). Neither have a holiday or winter vibe to me, but these colors are right up my alley so I said yes to both and added them to my cart. I really like this formula of gloss (previously reviewed here) and can’t believe it’s already been two years since Chanel first launched this.

Super Coral is a medium but muted coral with slight pink tones. Super Nude is a perfect soft peachy nude. Both are amazing. If you tried NARS Lip Gloss in Chelsea Girls but find it too sheer, Chanel Super Nude is a better alternative as it gives more color, coverage and pigment. It is thicker in texture though so if you need something weightless these might be too heavy.

Still I really like the Rouge Allure Gloss formula. It’s thick but not too thick. It has a perfect shine and just the tiniest bit of shimmer. Gloss adheres well to the lips and makes them look lush and full. It’s about time Chanel added more colors to this formula and I hope they continue to do so.
The Beauty Look Book - Chanel Rouge Allure Gloss Super Nude and Super Coral

The Beauty Look Book - Chanel Rouge Allure Gloss Super Nude and Super Coral

The Beauty Look Book - Chanel Rouge Allure Gloss Super Nude and Super Coral

The Beauty Look Book - Chanel Rouge Allure Gloss Super Nude

The Beauty Look Book - Chanel Rouge Allure Gloss Super Coral

Swatch comparisons:

The Beauty Look Book - Chanel Rouge Allure Gloss comparisons

NARS Velvet Lip Glide in Stripped, Unlaced and Playpen (reviewed here)
Chanel Glossimer in Beige Star (on lips here)
NARS Lip Gloss in Chelsea Girls (review here)
Chanel Rouge Allure Glosses in Sensuel, Sensible, Affroliant (review here)
Chanel Rouge Allure Ink in Amoureux (on the lips here)
Diorific Matte Fluid in Pleasure 001 (review here)

I’ve found some nice pieces. My favorite items are the Rouge Allure Glosses which I think are both just so perfect they are back-up worthy. I’ve gone back and forth in my head on the Hyperfresh Joues Contraste as it looks quite beautiful but am just not sure especially since I already own a lot of blushes and there are lots of holiday items coming out soon. When I placed my order the blush was not available at the time. If you’ve tried it let me know what you think. I may go investigate this weekend.

You can find the Chanel Collection Libre right now at Chanel.com, Nordstrom and Saks. I suspect it will be available at all counters very soon.
11 Comments
Base Makeup Highlighters Tom Ford Beauty

Tom Ford Beauty Face Collection: Waterproof Foundation/Concealer, Shimmer Shots and Fiber Brow Gel

October 20, 2016
The Beauty Look Book - Tom Ford Face Collection Foundation and Shimmer Shots

 

Tom Ford has added more items to their face product lineup and as usual everything is on point. Items have been introduced “to perfect, highlight and define the face’s natural features for a balanced and flawless finish.” There have been quite a few new foundation launches this season and the one from Tom Ford is one that I was most anxious to try out. The collection includes the following new launches:

 

The Beauty Look Book - Tom Ford Face Collection Foundation and Shimmer Shots

 

Up first are the Fiber Brow Gels. I received two to try out in Espresso and Chestnut. It has tiny fibers to help fill in the brows and as a low-maintenance brow girl I find it perfect. It fills in brows, grooms and tints them all in one product. Espresso is my best match although I usually go lighter. At the counter the reps said Espresso is my shade. I did try Chestnut since the Tom Ford Beauty team was kind enough to send one, it can work for me since my hair color has a natural reddish undertone. My brows however do not have any red so sometimes reddish powders or pencils colors can look off. Since this coats the hairs I find it gives it a natural tint and looks good.

 

The Beauty Look Book - Tom Ford Fiber Brow Gel

 

The Beauty Look Book - Tom Ford Fiber Brow Gel Chestnut Espresso

 

I haven’t tried too many other tinted brow gels, but by comparison the Tom Ford Fiber Brow Gel is larger in packaging and brush size which makes it easier to use compared to the Glossier Boy Brow. I know many of you love the Boy Brow. I think it’s good especially for the price, but the size makes it hard for me to hold sometimes even though I have very small hands and fingers. The Tom Ford brush is slightly larger and has a more angled shape which makes application a lot easier. Compared to By Terry’s Brow Mascara I find the fibers in the Tom Ford to have more substance. I would say it has a chunkier texture/consistency which sounds odd and almost unappealing, but it fills in brows more while the By Terry grooms and tints but doesn’t fill in the brows like the Tom Ford one does.

 

I give the Fiber Brow Gel a thumbs up. I have bought and used the Tom Ford Brow Sculptor which is an excellent product. I prefer skinny fine-tipped brow pencils so this one hasn’t been used as much as my Diorshow Brow Styler Pencil.

 

Next are the Shimmer Shots which I think are genius. Sometimes names are everything and whoever named the product and colors for this launch deserves a bonus because they are both just perfect. I’ve loved every highlighter I’ve tried from Tom Ford and the Shimmer Shots are gorgeous additions to their line. Spin Spin Sugar is a champagne color with a slight gold sheen and Lust for Life is coppery bronze. Both blend in beautifully for a natural glow where you apply. I’ve tried it under foundation, on top of powder/foundation to highlight, and on the eyes.

 

The Beauty Look Book - Tom Ford Shimmer Shots

 

The Beauty Look Book - Tom Ford Shimmer Shots swatched

 

By comparison to a few other Tom Ford highlighters, the Skin Illuminating Powder Duo in Moodlight (reviewed here) is more frosty in finish. Skin Illuminator in Fire Lust (reviewed here) is more peachy and also sheerer in finish with a more dewy finish.

 

The Beauty Look Book - Tom Ford Moodlight, Shimmer Shots and Fire Lust

 

More comparisons because so many of you have asked. I think the Tom Ford Shimmer Shots are must-haves, even though I have a lot of liquid highlighters. They have the perfect amount of shimmer and the finish is visible but natural.

 

The Beauty Look Book - Tom Ford Shimmer Shot comparisons

 

Becca Shimmering Skin Perfector in Champagne Pop (review here)
NARS Illuminator in 413 BLKR (review here)
Estee Edit Beam Team Bronze (review here)
Estee Edit Flash Illuminator in Sun Light and Night Light (review here)
Cover FX Custom Enhancer Drops in Candlelight (review here)

 

Last but not least is the Waterproof Foundation/Concealer. When I heard this was launching my first concern that it might be too thick. I’ve had good experiences with Tom Ford foundations in the past. I am usually either Bisque or Natural but at the counter I found the next shade up Sable to be a good match for me (although the girls at the counter disagreed and said it would be too olive for my skin). Note the numbers for the names have changed and I was told this happened across all formulas. The shades with the corresponding names are still the same, so if you usually wear Natural, you’re still Natural – just the number underneath has changed. I bought Sable at the counter because I found it more olive. Samples of Bisque and Natural arrived as those are my usual colors.

 

Formula wise this is one of the best full coverage cream foundations I’ve tried. As one who is olive/golden/yellow I appreciate that Tom Ford consistently launches colors that are not pink in undertone. Formula is highly concentrated and opaque but doesn’t look fake or flat like many full coverage foundations can. It has a slight matte finish but manages to look fresh and radiant at the same time. When I use this I find that I do not need concealer under the eyes. Lasting power is excellent and stays put all day. No irritation from this, no oxidizing, no budging. I do think that you need to prep the skin properly though – if you have dry skin with any dry patches or flakes any full coverage foundation can emphasize dry areas. I make sure I have a well moisturized base, but a tiny spot on my forehead, one on each cheek and one dab on my chin, then use a damp beauty blender to work the foundation into the skin.

 

There’s no detectable scent and it photographs well with a flash.

 

The Beauty Look Book - Tom Ford Waterproof Foundation Concealer Review

 

The colors I have now are Bisque 5.5 (which used to be 4), Natural 6.0 (which used to be 5) and Sable 6.5 (which used to be 6). Swatches below straight from the tube and then blended.

 

The Beauty Look Book - Tom Ford Waterproof Foundation Concealer Bisque Natural Sable
The Beauty Look Book - Tom Ford Waterproof Foundation Concealer Bisque Natural Sable

 

Both Bisque and Sable work for me. Natural is warmer and too dark for my skin right now. They do adjust slightly and warm up to the skin once on but they don’t oxidize too much. I asked my husband what he thought about Bisque and Sable. I had one on each side and he couldn’t tell the difference from the front. I turned my head to each side and he said that Bisque was a better match.

 

Below are swatch comparisons to the Traceless Foundation Stick in Bisque and Natural along with the Traceless Perfecting Foundation formulas I have. For those who aren’t familiar with Tom Ford Foundations wondering about the colors, Natural in the stick is lighter than Bisque stick (as mentioned in this post too).

 

By comparison, the Traceless Perfecting Foundation is lighter in texture but can feel heavier on the face. Some have commented it looks flat on the skin – I often mix in a bit of shimmer luminizer in it. Coverage is full but not as full as the Waterproof formula.

 

The Stick Foundation is full coverage and one I cannot wear all over the face because of how opaque and thick it is so I often use it to layer on top of other foundations if I need more coverage. The Waterproof formula offers more natural looking coverage.

 

The Beauty Look Book - Tom Ford Foundation Swatches

 

Swatch comparisons to the NARS Velvet Matte Skin Tints in Groenland and St. Moritz (I mix the shades) and also the MAC Studio Fix Fluid Foundations in NC25, NC30, NC35 and NC37 (my best matches are NC25 or NC37). I’m forever in between shades.

 

The Beauty Look Book - Tom Ford Foundation Swatches vs NARS and MAC

Some thoughts on other foundation formulas by comparison that I have tried:

  • Laura Mercier Silk Creme Oil-Free Photo Foundation (reviewed here) is one I used to have but no longer own. Formula wise the Laura Mercier was more opaque and slightly thicker in finish. I find in her line I am often in between shades and the dry down of this one darkened a bit and had a tendency to look flat if I used too much.
  • Cle de Peau Radiant Cream Foundation was one I tested at the counter. I went to the store fully intending to purchase this but sometimes a bad store experience can ruin the fun. Rant aside, I tried both O30 (too pink) and O40 (too dark) on my face and as I could not find a good match I decided to pass. Formula-wise it’s excellent but at the $100+ price tag I need an exact match in order to buy.
  • Cle de Peau Silk Cream Foundation is one I used to use in O30 and was told it’s been discontinued. This was one of the best formulas I’ve ever tried but the texture was more moisturizing and is slightly heavier than the Tom Ford. The formula while not hydrating, gave me a more dewy finish.
  • La Mer Soft Fluid Foundation is also a new formula that I had high hopes for. I acquired a small sample at the counter and found my best shade to be Beige. This one is more fluid and lighter in coverage. It also has the Miracle Broth skincare element included. I absolutely love this formula but Beige pulls slightly pink on my skin so since I cannot find a yellow/golden enough match this will be a pass for me unless I get a lot lighter this winter and can find another color.
  • Armani Crema Nuda is one I don’t think I can really compare because the finish and concept is completely different in the sense that it’s sheerer and more like a BB/CC cream rather than a foundation/concealer like the Tom Ford one is.
  • If you try the Tom Ford and find it too thick or heavy I would suggest you maybe try the Make Up For Ever Ultra HD instead which offers sheerer coverage by comparison but still medium to full coverage.
Bottom line lots to love with these new launches. I highly recommend the foundation if you’re in the market for a good full-coverage but natural looking foundation. Many can look flat if you use all over the face but this one does not. If you own a lot of highlighters you may find the Shimmer Shots similar to what you already own. I think both are winners and the shimmer is very pretty but not overly frosty.

 

By now you can find the Tom Ford Waterproof Foundation/Concealer, Shimmer Shots and Fiber Brow Gel at all Tom Ford Beauty counters. Online at Nordstrom, Neiman Marcus and Tom Ford.

 

Press samples of The Face Collection Waterproof Foundation in Bisque + Natural, Shimmer Shots and Fiber Brow Gel provided courtesy of Tom Ford.

 

14 Comments
NARS

NARS Velvet Lip Glide, 413 BLKR Cheek and Lip Palette and NARSissist Dual-Intensity Cheek Palette

October 17, 2016
The Beauty Look Book - NARS Velvet Lip Glide, 413 BLKR Cheek and Lip Palette and NARSissist Dual-Intensity Cheek Palette

 

I’ve had some NARS bits that I’ve accumulated that I had not yet swatched or reviewed for you. By now their Sarah Moon Holiday collection has already launched so much of this post contains items that are old news. Today I’m reviewing:
Up first are the Velvet Lip Glides. These are described as comfortable high-pigment products that glide on as a gloss but have the lipstick finish. They have a slight semi-matte finish but on my lips the colors I picked out still have a slight sheen. There’s an almost weightless airy feel but they will cover the lips all the way with a few strokes. When I bought mine I ordered them sight unseen and went with the safe colors.

 

The Beauty Look Book NARS Velvet Lip Glide Stripped, Unlaced, Playpen, Bound

 

The Beauty Look Book NARS Velvet Lip Glide swatch Stripped, Unlaced, Playpen, Bound

The colors I bought:

  • Stripped is a beige nude which I found to be a very good neutral nude that doesn’t wash me out or look streaky on the lips, huge thumbs up for this one!
  • Unlaced is a light pink beige which unfortunately doesn’t work well with my lip or skintone by itself, it’s too light and pale, finish is a bit streaky because of the contrast it has with my natural lip color but you can smooth it out with some blending
  • Playpen is a warm peachy coral which should work for me because I love these colors, but there’s something about the undertone that makes it pull orangey and makes my skin look a bit yellow when I wear this one, I found this odd because it’s almost identical to a few from Chanel and Tarte (swatched below) but there must be something about the drydown that turns the NARS a bit orangey on me
  • Bound is a perfect mauve neutral, I feel like I’ve been looking for a color like this for a long time and I’ve finally found the one
The Beauty Look Book NARS Velvet Lip Glide swatch Stripped, Unlaced, Playpen, Bound

 

Swatch comparisons:

 

The Beauty Look Book NARS Velvet Lip Glide swatch comparisons

Swatched above:

 

Next is the 413 BLKR Cheek and Lip Palette which is exclusive to NARS boutiques and NARS online. I also bought this sight unseen in part because NARS palettes excite me and also because the pink shades looked just perfect.

 

The Beauty Look Book NARS 413 BLKR Cheek and Lip Palette

 

The Beauty Look Book NARS 413 BLKR Cheek and Lip Palette

 

The Beauty Look Book - NARS 413 BLKR Velvet Matte Lip Pencil

 

It contains, 3 blushes in a satin pale pink, a neutral rose blush, a deeper raspberry blush, Laguna Bronzer and a bright electric fuchsia lip pencil. This palette did not work for me. The colors for the cheeks ended up looking muddy on my complexion and darkened quite a bit giving me a burnt look. The lip color pulls too bright and too cool-toned on my lips. This is one I should have gone by my palette rule of not buying because I knew there might be a chance I would not like at least one of the colors. Quality-wise the powders are soft and easy to blend. The lip pencil went on the lips smooth but I couldn’t get over how garish the color was against my olive skintone, I literally wiped it off immediately. They just don’t work with my skintone.

 

The Beauty Look Book - NARSissist Dual-Intensity Blush Palette

 

Last but not least is the NARSissist Dual-Intensity Cheek Palette which I’ve featured a few times before but never posted swatches. I liked this one so much I bought a backup although given the holiday palette launches I probably should have skipped the backup. I’m a huge fan of the Dual-Intensity Blush formula (also for the eyeshadows) because they’re the perfect hybrid of powder and cream. They meld beautifully with the skin and last all day on me. The shimmer is just perfect in each color as well. After swatching the palette next to individual colors I did find a lot of almost-dupes. If you haven’t bought it yet and were still debating whether or not to get it, I think it’s a great option, especially for travel. However if you already own a lot of the others (I own all of them and yes they were all splurge-worthy) you may want to skip and opt for the holiday palettes instead.

 

Colors include a soft opal with a pink sheen, shimmering peach, shimmering pink and warm bronzey tan shimmer. They all have some degree of shimmer but aren’t frosty.

 

The Beauty Look Book - NARSissist Dual-Intensity Blush Palette Swatches

 

Swatch comparisons below to four of the other Dual-Intensity Blushes:

 

The Beauty Look Book - NARSissist Dual-Intensity Blush Palette vs Individual Swatches

 

A quick side by side rundown of the palettes in this review lined up by the Holiday 2016 offerings. I just ordered the Sephora exclusive  which just popped up online over the weekend and have high hopes for it. Most of the rest are available at NARS stores and narscosmetics.com right now and will launch at other stores/counters on November 1st. I’m trying to wait and see in person before splurging.

 

NARS Palettes

 

Bottom line, love the Velvet Lip Glides in Stripped and Bound along with the NARSissist Dual-Intensity Blush Palette. The rest aren’t bad – the colors just didn’t work out for me but it’s bound to happen from time to time when ordering items sight unseen.
NARS Velvet Lip Glides and NARSissist Dual-Intensity Blush Palette are available at all NARS stores and counters. Note the blush palette is limited-edition. The 413 BLKR Cheek and Lip Palette is exclusive to NARS stores and their website.

 

Have you picked up or tried any of the NARS items I reviewed today? Or have you checked out the holiday collection? Let me know your thoughts!
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Anastasia Beverly Hills Base Makeup Eye Makeup

Anastasia Beverly Hills Master Palette by Mario and Stick Foundation

October 13, 2016
Anastasia Beverly Hills Master Palette by Mario and Stick Foundation

 

My love for Anastasia Beverly Hills continues with two new launches in the Master Palette by Mario ($45 for .7g/0.2 oz x 12 shadows) and Stick Foundation in Warm Natural and Golden ($25 for 9 g/0.32 oz). I bought all three from Sephora – the palette is something I ordered sight unseen. For the foundation I spent some time in store swatching colors but they did not have all the testers or colors for sale. Luckily they had the colors that matched my skintone range so I was able to find something that matched. For a line that I feel is very much on the trendy side I’ve been fortunate to find some really great products that are still suitable for my conservative makeup taste. Pigment and formulas are versatile, rich in pigmented and shimmer, but still easy to blend out for a less sharp look. As much as I love new makeup trends I will not bake my face, strobe heavily, use the heavy contour method or have my highlighter “on fleek” as the young ones say these days. So for my fellow conservative makeup lovers – I think you might be able to find some really good products that are easy to wear even if you feel like you’re not the trendy type.

 

Up first is the Master Palette by Mario. This is the first eyeshadow palette I’ve bought from Anastasia Beverly Hills. After a few years of accumulating several palettes in my early days of makeup exploration I found many sat unused in my makeup drawers if I did not love all the colors. So I made myself a self-imposed rule that if there were 2-3 shades I did not like I told myself “don’t buy it.” I did try to stick with it and for quite a few years I was able to resist a lot of palettes. In recent years palettes have been more tempting and my resolve weakened. In this case there were 2 shades I didn’t really like which included the olive and navy teal – but seeing swatches online made me decide to cave and I’m glad I did.

 

The Beauty Look Book - Anastasia Beverly Hills Master Palette by Mario review

 

This is one of the more trendy palettes I own. The shimmer is noticeable and on the scale of shimmer intensity I would say it’s pretty high but I can still wear all the colors. The pigment is medium but buildable to full coverage. There are a few matte shades which also have excellent coverage. The shades are easy to blend and layer. Texture is soft so there is some fallout when applying on the eyes but I have yet to find a powder shadow that doesn’t have some level of fall out. Once on the eyes the colors stay put – no smudging, fading or creeping. I like that they apply well with or without a base (at least for me).

Colors include:

  • Hollywood is a pale shimmery gold
  • NYC is a warm coppery bronze shimmer
    Kim is a warm tan shimmer with orange tones
  • Muse is a reddish pink shimmer
  • Marina is a shimmering champagne mauve
  • Claudia is a deep greyed navy shimmer
  • Lula is a matte cool brown
  • Isabel is a matte burnt orange
  • Violeta is a warm deep brown
  • 5th Ave is a shimmering pale frosted gold
  • Bronx is a shimmering olive
  • Paris is a shimmering bronze
In terms of how to wear this palette I often get overwhelmed with this many options – but I really like this one. I’ve tried every single color in combinations of 3-4 shades and every time the look is just really pretty. Unfortunately I don’t have any eye looks for you as I’m still trying to figure out how to photograph warm shades on the eyes.The brush is easy to use and the shape is good for blending and lid application – quality isn’t the best as I feel it’s not as soft as I’m used to, but it’s functional and works.

 

The Beauty Look Book - Anastasia Beverly Hills Master Palette by Mario review

 

A few more close ups:

 

The Beauty Look Book - Anastasia Beverly Hills Master Palette by Mario review

 

The Beauty Look Book - Anastasia Beverly Hills Master Palette by Mario Swatches

 

The Beauty Look Book - Anastasia Beverly Hills Master Palette by Mario Swatches
Next up are the Stick Foundations. These offer medium-full to full coverage. Picking a color was a bit tricky in store as there is a wide range and they aren’t displayed in sequential order. There are handy face photos with models to help narrow down your shade. My exact match is Warm Natural but with full coverage foundations often times an exact match can make the face look a bit flat. I picked up Golden as well which matches my tanned body so I use two shades and blend.

 

Anastasia Beverly Hills Stick Foundation in Warm Natural and Golden - The Beauty Look Book

 

I would say the finish pulls more on the matte side and for me – I don’t like matte finish foundations because I find they emphasize fine lines and crevices. Especially around the mouth where lines form when you smile – full coverage mattes tend to creep into those lines and age my face. The one from Anastasia Beverly Hills does not emphasize lines but if you have dry skin or skin that tends to pull dry you will probably find it too drying for all over the face. I think it still can be used for extra coverage if you like to layer foundations. To date my favorite foundation stick is still the Make Up For Ever Ultra HD Invisible Cover Stick Foundation (review soon but you can see it in action on my face in this post here).

 

Anastasia Beverly Hills Stick Foundation in Warm Natural and Golden swatched

 

Foundation Stick Swatches Lancome, Make Up For Ever, Anastasia Beverly Hills, Hourglass, Tom Ford
Shown above:
To find your match if you’re looking online or want to know where to start I recommend visiting their Stick Foundation Pinterest Page where they have lots of swatches, face charts and more. Here are a few that helped me. Based on these my best guess was Natural, Warm Natural and Golden and I think it was pretty accurate:

 

 

One last look:

 

The Beauty Look Book - Anastasia Beverly Hills Master Palette by Mario and Stick Foundation
Bottom line winners in my book and even though some of you have pointed out the line is overpriced as items are made in China, I still find quality and performance to be quite good. I’ve found them priced reasonably although many of you may be correct in your assessment that they are priced higher than they should be considering where the product is made. I still find what I’ve tried to be solid performers. Update: I took a closer look at the eyeshadow palette, shadows are made in USA and brush is made in PRC. Foundation sticks say made in PRC.

 

For other reviews you can always click the tag/label at the bottom of each post to find other features. I’ll link the ones I’ve done below for reference.

 

 

I bought the Master Palette by Mario and Stick Foundation at Sephora. You can also find the line at Ulta Beauty, Macy’s and Anastasia Beverly Hills.

 

Have you tried these yet? What did you think?
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Cover FX Highlighters

Cover FX The Perfect Light Highlighting Powders

October 7, 2016
Cover FX The Perfect Light Highlighting Powder

Cover FX has brought us yet more ways to glow with The Perfect Light Highlighting Powders ($34 each for 8 g /0.28 oz, made in Canada). There are three shades available in Moonlight, Sunlight and Candlelight with are talc-free highlighters that come in a mirrored compact. The colors do have the same undertone and effect as the Custom Enhancer Drops by the same name but the powder version is a lot softer in overall effect when worn alone. Currently available at Sephora and Cover FX.

Cover FX The Perfect Light Highlighting Powder

On my medium olive skintone:

  • Moonlight is the lightest and offers the most highlight/shimmer because it contrasts with my olive medium skintone color
  • Sunlight
    looks really close in the compact to Moonlight, but on my skin it’s a
    medium champagne with a hint of gold and for me looks the most natural
  • Candlelight is a soft bronze copper glow on my skin and for me this one is the most shimmery

Cover FX The Perfect Light Highlighting Powder swatches

Cover FX The Perfect Light Highlighting Powder Review

Cover FX The Perfect Light Highlighting Powder swatches

To show the depth and pigment of the shimmer, I pulled the corresponding Custom Enhancer Drops (all previously reviewed here). To quote Cover FX, in order to “take your glow to the max” they recommend starting with the Illuminating Primer to give your skin that soft lit-from-within glow to create a smooth canvas for your foundation. Follow with the Custom Enhancer Drops to create a buildable highlight for a strobe effect or blended out glow. Add depth by layering the Perfect Light Highlighting Powder on top.

For those conservative with the shimmer you may find layering a bit too intense. I tried with all the colors on the face and eyes. I can layer Sunlight or Candlelight together and not feel like a golden statue. Moonlight is a bit too pale for my skintone which causes a more sharp highlight/shimmer.
Cover FX The Perfect Light Highlighting Powder and Custom Enhancer Drops

Moonlight:

Sunlight:

Candlelight: 

Note this one was applied with a heavy hand but you can sheer and blend it out for a softer look:

A quick beauty look below with all three shades worn. If you follow @coverfx on social or look at the tags other beauty lovers use for looks you will be able to see some seriously intense glow and glam strobe effects. I wanted to create a softer look that I would feel comfortable wearing everyday and also to show you that these powder can be blended for a more conservative look. If you like more shimmer you can definitely layer more or apply over a cream highlighter to pull more pigment.

Foundation worn is MAC Studio Fix Fluid in NC37.

On the eyes is Cover FX Sunlight Custom Enhancer Drop blended all over the lid with Sunlight Powder blended on top of the eyes for an all over wash. A tiny bit of Cover FX Candlelight Powder along eyes as well but in the photo I don’t think you can tell.

On the cheeks is Tom Ford Gold Dust Bronzer applied like a blush with Cover FX The Perfect Light Highlighter Powder in Candlelight on top blended. Cover FX Moonlight Powder is applied to highlight.

On the lips is MAC Huggable Lipstick in Bare Hug.

Top by Splendid.

Texture wise these are smooth and soft. The pigment is excellent and easy to blend without emphasizing pores or skin imperfections – however with most highlighters, the color and finish will depend on your skintype. I really like all three and find them easy to wear on cheeks or eyes. As one who owns dozens of other highlighter powders I will say that I think you can probably find similar colors if you want to shop your stash. That being said these powders from Cover FX perform well. I like that there’s no irritation on my sensitive skin, they don’t emphasize pores and the shimmer is truly easy to control whether you want a soft highlight or more pigmented strobe effect. I find Candlelight to be a very wearable warm bronze which is hard for me since many bronzey shades can pull orange on my skin and the one from Cover FX does not.

The Cover FX team has been kind enough to offer Beauty Look Book readers a chance for a giveaway! Three winners will be selected to win:
  • 1 Full Size Illuminating Primer
  • 1 Full Size Bottle of Custom Infusion Drops – Radiance
  • 1 Perfect Light Highlighting Powder of choice (either sunlight, moonlight, candlelight)

Giveaway details:

  • Open to US and Canada residents
  • Must be 18 years or older
  • Enter via the widget below
  • Entries will be collected for 3 days (ends 10/10/2016 at 11:45 AM PST)
  • 3 distinct winners will be selected via the widget and contacted by me
  • Prizes will be shipped directly from Cover FX

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Have you tried the Cover FX highlighters yet? I’m still really loving the liquid drops and can’t believe how quickly they keep selling out but I hope they will restock again soon.
You can find the Perfect Light Highlighting Powders now at at Sephora and Cover FX.
Cover FX powders and giveaway items provided courtesy of the Cover FX team.

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