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New Tom Ford Lip Colors for Fall 2015

September 11, 2015

 

Tom Ford added 16 new Lip Colors to his permanent beauty lineup. He launched three shades that were previously Asia Exclusives and also launched eight lipsticks in full-size form that were formerly in the small Lips & Boys size. I ordered several a few weeks ago – I’m a huge fan of Tom Ford Lipsticks (all his formulas) even though these come with a high price tag of $52 each, the formula is rich, creamy, pigmented, non-irritating and non-drying (they made it into my top three picks of favorite lipsticks). I have a review of 6 shades I picked out plus swatches of 15 of the 16 colors that I swatched at the counter (I missed one that I couldn’t locate at the counter). The new colors that just launched include:

 

  • Bare Peach is a medium peach silver shimmer
  • Casino (formerly Blake from Lips & Boys) is a metallic plum-brown with gold frost
  • Dark & Stormy (formerly Pavlos from Lips & Boys) is a dark brown with a hint of red
  • Flash of Pink (formerly John from Lips & Boys) is the color I couldn’t locate at the counter
  • Guilty Pleasure (formerly William from Lips & Boys) is a warm metallic peach gold
  • Lilac Nymph is a cool-toned lilac cream
  • Misbehaved is a medium peach cream
  • Naked Coral is a shimmering soft coral
  • Seventh Sin is a metallic copper gold
  • Showgirl (formerly Francesco from Lips & Boys) is a vibrant hot pink cream
  • So Vain is a mauve plum with a slight hint of gold shimmer
  • Something Wild is a medium warm hot pink
  • Sunset Boulevard (formerly Tomas from Lips & Boys) is a hot orange cream
  • Sweet Mystery (formerly Peter from Lips & Boys) is a shimmering champagne nude
  • Virgin Rose is a cool-toned baby pink
The colors I picked out are all neutrals of course. When I bought mine I ordered sight unseen and I did not know that some were repromotes of Lips & Boys. After seeing the other colors at the counter I was tempted by Virgin Rose but suspect it will be too cool-toned for my skin. Casino is gorgeous but looks identical Blake which I already own so I passed.

 

My picks include Naked Coral, Forbidden Pink, Sweet Mystery, Bare Peach, Guilty Pleasure and So Vain. All performed true to what I’m used to with other Tom Ford Lip Colors. They glide on the lips nicely. The shimmering colors are on the frosty side which emphasized lip lines – although I will say that my lips have been a bit dry lately. These days I prep my lips with Charlotte Tilbury Lip Magic or MAC Prep + Prime Lips and let it set for a minute before applying lip color. Both give the lips a nice smooth base with some hydration. They are good bases for lipstick because they have just the right amount of moisture and aren’t too emollient which is a must – otherwise the lip color can tend to slide off.

 

Colors in different lighting, indoors without flash:

 

 

Swatches side by side, note most of the colors I picked had some kind of shimmer in them. Naked Coral, Forbidden Pink and So Vain are the ones with the least shimmer but the formula still has a very slight glossy sheen which makes them glow:

 

 

Close up and lip swatches. On my skin Naked Coral and Forbidden Pink are very close. My lips tend to make anything with a slightly bright base turn a bit so you will probably see more of a distinction on your lips versus mine. I have a very slight preference for Forbidden Pink because it has a warm pink base.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I pulled a few other Tom Ford lipsticks to compare and see if a couple were truly dupes of the Lips & Boys. The ones I looked at are 90%+ identical, there are very slight differences. There are still a few of the Lips & Boys available online at Neiman Marcus. Reviews of previous reviews linked below:

 

One last shot of the new colors lined up side by side:

 

I definitely have dupes with Sweet Mystery and Guilty Pleasure. If you have either Peter or William you don’t need the repromotes unless you love it, are running low and want to replenish. Naked Coral and Forbidden Pink are very close on me. I have a slight preference for Forbidden Pink although if you like lighter colors I’d recommend you opt for Naked Coral instead – it has a brighter look. Bare Peach is pure love although the shimmer in it requires lip prep so it doesn’t emphasize lip lines. So Vain is a good cool-toned mauve plum that will be perfect for a fall transition color.
All the new lip colors are supposed to be permanent additions to the Tom Ford Lip Color line. I’m still tempted by Virgin Rose but I know it will almost certainly be too cool in color for my skin. Also with the other lipstick launches from other lines this fall, there are plenty of other colors and formulas to choose from.
The Tom Ford Lip Colors retail for $52 each. Available now at Tom Ford Beauty counters. Online at Nordstrom, Neiman Marcus, Bergdorf Goodman, Saks Fifth Avenue and Selfridges.

 

31 Comments
Christian Louboutin

Christian Louboutin Lip Colours: Rouge Louboutin

September 1, 2015

 

Today Christian Louboutin launches 38 shades of Louboutin Lip Colour in three distinct formulas ($90 each). The Lip Colours come cased in the most ornate packaging I’ve ever seen for the lipstick. The design is inspired by Babylonian architecture – it resembles an elixir vial and is capped with a stunning crown. The three different textures include a multitude of colors. Each formula has the red classic Louboutin Rouge color. I have swatches of the three reds to share today. They come with a hefty price tag and I am pleased to report Louboutin has taken lipstick to another level, not just with the packaging, but also with an incredible formula. According to Louboutin these are made in the USA, paraben-ree, mineral oil-free, DEA-free and Phthalate-free. First a look at each of the three formulas and color selection.

 

 

Louboutin Rouge Nail Color featured on the nails in all photos, reviewed + swatched here:
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Silky Satin Lip Colour – 20 shades including Rouge Louboutin 3.8 gr /0.134 Oz
  • Glides on lips with an opulent and sensual feel.
  • A unique blend of ultra-fine colour pigments expresses deep and generous colour with a silky satin finish and soft shine.
  • Medium to full coverage delivered in one stroke with a supple and soft feel on lips.
  • A complex of natural oils and seed butters enhances moisturization for up to 4 hours and creates a protective effect against dryness.
  • Maintains an excellent appearance on lips up to 4 hours without bleeding and with durable comfort.
  • Available in a universal shade palette, ranging from light to deep tones, across mid-tonal and bright hues of pinks to berries, reds and corals, nudes and browns.

 

Velvet Matte Lip Colour – 9 shades including Rouge Louboutin 3.8 gr /0.134 Oz
  • Glides on lips with smooth precision.
  • Intensely rich color goes on with full coverage and sets with a soft touch matte finish.
  • Medium to full coverage delivered in one stroke with a supple and soft feel on lips.
  • A complex of natural oils and seed butters enhances moisturization for up to 4 hours and creates a protective effect against dryness.
  • Maintains an excellent appearance on lips up to 4 hours without bleeding and with durable comfort.

 

 

Sheer Voile Lip Color – 9 shades including Rouge Louboutin 3.5 gr / 0.123 Oz
  • Glides on lips with a creamy smooth nourishing sensation.
  • Impactful colour accents lips natural radiance with a wet luminous shine.
  • A complex of natural oils and seed butters enhances moisturization and creates a protective effect against dryness.

 

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The Louboutin Beaute team was kind enough to send the three Rouge Louboutin colors. I’ve been playing with these for the last month – it was so hard to touch the actual product. They are almost too pretty to use. Each lipstick comes in a hefty case with a cap that has a small loop opening so it can double as a charm. Each color comes individually packaged (search #LouboutinCharme for more photos and uploads from others). Mine came in a stunning black and red box as part of the press sample. The three formulas each have a distinct design for the packaging. The Velvet Mattes have a brushed matte finish on the case, Silky Satins have a glossy finish to the tubes, Sheer Voiles have a patterned weave to the outside.

 

 

 

Swatches below, you can see the difference in texture. For the color in Rouge Louboutin, all three reds are very similar, if not almost identical in color.

 

Closeup to see the texture differences:

 

 

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Thoughts and swatches on my lips from sheer to full coverage. First up in Sheer Voile. I haven’t tried or seen the other colors but the pigment of Rouge Louboutin is very very good. It has a super lush glossy finish that has a slightly transparent look. It is very pigmented on my lips and glides on like a dream. It has a very soft scent that’s hard to describe – it’s like fresh and clean with a very slight powdery touch. The scent is very subtle. I found it extremely hydrating. The product is supposed to last four hours without fading. I was able to test it for 3 hours without having it budge before I had to eat something, it stayed put relatively well through snacks and it did not bleed around the edges. For a red, this is the best sheer red I’ve tried. It’s not too cool, it’s not too warm, and it doesn’t turn fuchsia. My wallet is going to be so broke when this one is used up because I will have to repurchase it.

 

 

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Silky Satin is the classic formula, it comes in 20 different shades. At $90 a tube the lipstick costs an arm and a leg. I already cry everytime Tom Ford launches new lipsticks because they break the bank. I’m of the mindset that no matter how good a lipstick is, a lipstick is still just a lipstick. Still I will splurge on Tom Ford and after testing Louboutin I am beyond amazed that they have truly taken lipstick to another level. The Silky Satin is out of this world. It lasted a full five hours on me without bleeding, fading or budging. It did transfer to a soda can, but the color lasted through 2 Diet Dr. Pepper cans and a 4 Oreos without fading at all. The color is super hydrating and lush. It has full opaque coverage with a very slightly glossy sheen. It makes the lips look lush because the pigment is so rich.

 

 

 

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Last but not least is Velvet Matte. I try to stay away from matte finish lipsticks because they often leave my lips looking dry and emphasize lip lines. There are few exceptions (Tom Ford Lip Color Matte is one formula I really like). The Louboutin Rouge Velvet Matte is amazingly exceptional. It offers full opaque coverage. It does have a slightly drier texture compared to the other two formulas. It sticks to the lips and stays put without budging. As with most rich reds this requires precise application. I usually like sheers or glossy formulas because they are more forgiving – for mattes like this one if you don’t cover the entire lip evenly it shows. This one takes more care to apply, but it’s the same as with any dark or bright lip color. Even though it’s matte it’s non drying. It has a distinct matte finish but still manages to have a glow to it.

 

 

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After playing these for a few weeks now I am surprised to report that I am truly impressed. I still think lipstick is simply lipstick and I thought there was no way lipstick could get better than it already is. The $90 price tag is really hard to swallow, but somehow Christian Louboutin has managed to take lip colors to another level with the formula. If you can budget for one it’s totally worth splurging on. It is a luxurious item that is very nice to have. I’ve already started budgeting to splurge on a few colors I have my eye on and my wallet is crying a flood of tears right now because these will break the bank.
All 38 colors officially launched at stores and online today. I can’t wait to see the entire range in person soon. You can find them online at Neiman Marcus, Bergdorf Goodman, Nordstrom, Sephora and Christian Louboutin. (There are also new Lip Liners that have launched with the collection.)
Have you checked out the Louboutin Lip Colours yet? If yes what did you think? If not yet have you ordered any yet! Let me know so I can live vicariously through you!

 

Many thanks to Louboutin for sending the Rouge Louboutin Lip Colours for review.

 

49 Comments
Chanel Eye Makeup

Les 5 Ombres de Chanel Eyeshadow Palette in Entrelacs for Fall 2015

August 27, 2015

There’s a stunning new eyeshadow palette from Chanel this fall called Les 5 Ombres de Chanel in Entrelacs ($80, limited-edition). It’s quite expensive but the colors are phenomenal neutrals that have a super soft texture with good buildable pigment. I think Chanel should make all their shadows in this formula – it melds into the skin flawlessly. The light colors are pigmented with a glorious shimmer giving them unique look. (In the pan they look almost matte.) The three darker shades are satiny in texture and layer nicely over each other. If you have a creamy liner or base on the lids you will see the dark shades pop. Chanel’s Les 5 Ombres de Chanel for fall is the perfect in-between of pure mattes and high frost shimmers. The finish is more of a satiny glow and I can’t rave enough about this palette. Even though I own enough neutrals to last 100 lifetimes I think this one is a must. 

The colors left to right:

Shimmering soft ivory with a champagne shimmery glow
Matte neutral beige tan
Soft satiny chocolate shimmer
Dark blackened brown satin
Soft light pink with gold shimmer

Swatches with the sponge applicators:

Swatched heavy over Tom Ford Peach Glow Primer with fingers:

I suspect each color can be replicated with individual colors. Some of the ones above resemble older Chanel singles and quads that I own (the first one resembles Ivory, second resembles Sand, third looks like a brown version of the darkest color in Poesie, fourth is unique). I pulled two other palettes to compare, Chanel Charming from Holiday 2013 and Dior Eye Reviver 001:

Overall a winner. I highly recommend it. If you’re new to high end eyeshadows and want a good easy to wear palette of neutrals, the Les 5 Ombres de Chanel is a good introductory palette. It has conservative colors suitable for everyday wear but enough color to show up on the eyes and add dimension. Lasting power is very good – it stays put all day without fading or budging. I’ve used it with my go-to eye base from Edward Bess. I like it so much I have to buy a back it up.

You can find the fall 2015 Les 5 Ombres de Chanel Eyeshadow Palette in Entrelacs at all counters now, while supplies last since it’s limited-edition. Online at Chanel.com, Nordstrom, Neiman Marcus, Saks Fifth Avenue, Bergdorf Goodman and all other Chanel retailers.

19 Comments
Charlotte Tilbury Eye Makeup

Charlotte Tilbury Eyes to Mesmerise Cream Eyeshadows

August 21, 2015
Charlotte Tilbury launched her new Eyes to Mesmerise Cream Eyeshadows several months ago ($32 each for 0.24 fl oz/7 ml). I bought five of the six shades as soon as I saw them at my local Nordstrom counter but then went on vacation, took photos, but never got around to reviewing them. I’ve been playing with these for quite some time now and think they are really amazing. I think they are little pots of magic for the eyes. If you’re a fan of the Tom Ford Cream Eyeshadows, you will love the ones from Charlotte Tilbury. The concept and texture of the Charlotte Tilbury’s are similar to those of Tom Ford’s. They both have a super creamy feel, they are easy to blend, they layer quite beautifully and you can control the pigment. On my lids they last all day without budging as long as I don’t rub my eyes. They feel weightless and have the most beautiful shimmer. A quick note on cream shadows – I don’t have oily lids and I rarely wear a primer because I find most drying on my skin. I like creamier eye bases such as the one from Edward Bess or cream shadows in general because they help powder shadows adhere to my lids better.

 

The Charlotte Tilbury Eyes to Mesmerise wear well alone or layered together. I am thoroughly impressed with how easy it is to layer and control pigment. Some cream shadows disappear or sheer out a lot once you blend. The ones from Charlotte Tilbury can be sheered out, but they still have extremely good pigment. Some close ups, descriptions and swatches of the 5 shades I picked out below.

 

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Norma Jean is a pale golden champagne color. It has the most beautiful shimmer in it. I love this all over the lids or as a base color. There is a bit of champagne pink mixed in a tiny bit of peach in the shimmer. It’s really quite stunning.
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Marie Antoinette is a sparkling golden brown taupe color. This one looks neutral-warm in the pot but goes on my skin more neutral-cool because of the silvery shimmer particles. This one will probably look very different on your skin if you have cool tones or fair skin. On my medium/olive skin it’s a gorgeous my lids but better kind of color.
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Bette is a warm coppery gold. On my skin this pulls very warm and very gold. I like it layered on top of either Norma Jean or Marie Antoinette to create depth or a soft gradient.
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Mona Lisa is a shimmering soft brown with plum undertones. It’s pure genius with the complex mix of cool and warm sparkles. It’s like a chocolate color, bronze shade and plum all mixed in one.

 

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Veruschka is one of the most interesting khaki shimmers I’ve seen. This one is a bit sheerer in finish compared to the others with one swipe but it is easy to layer. I have a hard time wearing olive colors. The olive + olive skin combo sometimes makes my face look very tired and sallow. This one has a beautiful mix of gold, green, olive and silver shimmers to make it more complex. It’s not a color I can wear on its own. I’m still experimenting with color combinations on this one.

 

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The colors I picked all lined up side by side. The teal shade Cleopatra is beyond gorgeous. I was very tempted to purchase but it’s not a color I suspect I would wear frequently. I might go back for it because it’s so striking, but for now I’m really happy with the five that I have. They are among the best in cream shadows that I’ve tried (tied with Tom Ford).

 

 

Swatches heavy:

 

 

Swatches heavy but blended:

 

 

Comparisons to some other shades, both sets are the same, one is just a close up:

 

Armani Eye Tints 12, 9, 11 and 5 (reviewed here)
Tom Ford Escapade (discontinued, reviewed here)
Tom Ford Spring 2015 (reviewed here)
Chanel Caroube (review + swatched here)
Tom Ford Platinum and Spice (reviewed here)

 

 

 

One last shot lined up:

 

I can’t rave enough about these. I think all five are outstanding. Veruschka is the only one I’m a bit iffy about mainly because I don’t really love olive colors, but there is a lovely complexity to the color that makes it really unique. I couldn’t find exact dupes with Tom Ford, Chanel or Armani. There are similarities in a lot of the colors so you may want to shop your stash before splurging. I give each one a huge thumbs up. For those curious, I’ve been applying them with my fingers but brushes work too. If you’re looking for pretty cream shadows with really good pigment and sophisticated shimmer these are really fun. The colors are gorgeous. You can use them as a traditional cream shadow for the lids or as a highlighter for the inner corners.

 

You can find the Charlotte Tilbury Eyes to Mesmerise Eyeshadows at all Charlotte Tilbury counters now. Online at Nordstrom, Beautylish, Net-A-Porter, Bergdorf Goodman and Charlotte Tilbury.
24 Comments
Highlighters Tom Ford Beauty

Tom Ford Beauty Moodlight Skin Illuminating Powder Duo

August 10, 2015

 

Tom Ford Beauty has some exciting new releases for fall. It appears new products are launching in a few mini collections, up first is a focus on face makeup for flawless and glowing skin. New products include:
Today I have a review of the gorgeous highlighter duo in Moodlight. I ordered mine online as soon as it popped up for pre-order and it arrived a couple of weeks ago. Moodlight is a powder duo. It comes in the large rectangular Tom Ford compact with a soft iridescent opal white shade and a medium bronzey peach pink champagne. The texture is very soft and easy to blend. Pigment is buildable but visible on the skin. The shimmer is pretty strong in both shades but on me the duo glows without that garish frost. The powders are embossed with the prettiest cross-hatch pattern and TF initials.

 

 

The colors have this beautiful mix of pigments. It makes the skin glow in a youthful way. I suspect on fair skintones, the light shade will be more subtle as it will match your skin and the bronzey shade will look more like a darker bronze. On my medium skin the light color shows up as a gorgeous opal highlight and the bronzey shade appears like a soft peachy bronze contour blush highlight. Darker skintones will see more contrast. The colors are truly stunning – I think this is going to be a universally flattering palette – it will look gorgeous no matter what skintone. Some more photos and swatches below.

 

 

 

 

 

Many have asked for a number of comparisons. I’ve pulled two batches for what I could fit on my arm. My personal thoughts on highlighter are that you can never have enough glow. The Tom Ford Skin Illuminating Duo gives that perfect glow-from-within combination. It mimics the effect Armani Fluid Sheers have minus the oily-overly-dewy factor you can get with warm weather.

 

Comparison Set 1:
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Comparison Set 2:

 

 

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The swatches and photos can’t do Tom Ford’s Skin Illuminating Powder Duo in  Moodlight justice. I’ve swatched it with a heavy hand to show you the color and complexity but it is easy to blend and on the skin it’s not overly shimmery or frosty. If you ask me if I think it’s a must-have I say absolutely yes. It’s like the now-discontinued Burberry Fresh Glow Powders minus the garish frost. If you want my thoughts on what the closest dupe is, I would say that the Edward Bess All Over Seduction Highlighters give the most similar effect but they are creams and slightly more dewy while the Tom Ford is a powder and more shimmery. Here it is applied on the cheeks. On the lips is Spanish Pink. On the eyes is the Nude Dip quad. For skintone reference I’m wearing the Traceless Perfecting Foundation in Natural #5.

 

 

I’ve been playing with Moodlight for several days now. It’s a good highlighter that isn’t overly frosted. It gives a youthful glow + subtle color. I like adding a bit of blush or bronzer for more color, but at my skintone right now I find I can wear it alone. (I wear Tom Ford Traceless Perfecting in Shade 5 Natural now, when I’m lighter I wear Shade 4 Bisque, swatches of all colors here + review on Shade 4 here).

 

 

There seem to be a number of new highlighters that have launched this season. Since I’m a huge highlighter fan I can’t pick just one as my favorite. I do think the Tom Ford Moodlight is a winner and backup-worthy. It lasts all day without getting too glowy-looking. I like that it’s a powder with a slight creamy finish so it adheres well to the skin. Also a huge plus is the fact that it doesn’t emphasize pores (at least on me). I give it a huge thumbs up. It’s mega expensive but worth every penny.
The Tom Ford Skin Illuminating Powder Duo comes in one shade Moodlight. It retails for $80 and is limited-edition. Available now at Tom Ford Beauty counters. Online at Nordstrom, Neiman Marcus, Sephora, Saks Fifth Avenue and Tom Ford.

 

40 Comments
Becca Highlighters

Becca x Jaclyn Hill Shimmering Skin Perfector in Champagne Pop

August 6, 2015

Becca x Jaclyn Hill teamed up to create a Pressed Shimmering Skin Perfector in Champagne Pop ($38 for 8 g / 0.28 oz, limited-edition, exclusive to Sephora). The shimmering skin perfector comes in a round mirrored compact in powder form but it’s very soft and buttery – it almost has a creamy texture to it. The color is described as a soft white gold with pinky peach undertones and it’s exactly how it appears on my skin. In the pot it’s this gorgeous luminous peachy gold champagne shimmer on the skin it pulls a bit more cool-toned than what I see in the compact. It is very complex in color and the powder shifts depending on how the light hits the shimmer particles. The color is super pigmented so you only need a tiny bit. I love how easy it is to blend. It gives a very visible and noticeable highlight. If you want something subtle this is not the product for you. I did find it went on the cheeks smoothly. It blends into this dreamy soft glow if you buff or blend it out. Huge plus is that it doesn’t emphasize pores. I have tons of highlighters in all forms and I find this one to be very special and quite amazing.

Pictures can’t do this Becca x Jaclyn Hill highlighter justice. I’ve taken a few photos to show the complexity but it’s something you have to see in person to really understand how gorgeous it is. Below in direct sunlight. I would say this shot is the closest to getting what the color looks like once on the skin.

At an angle, it looks more peachy. The peachy champagne base color helps add depth and dimension to the highlighter:

Close up of all the shimmers:

On the skin it’s more of a white-gold like the Sephora description:

I swatched the Becca Champagne Pop highlighter next to the Charlotte Tilbury Norman Parkinson Highlighter, Hourglass Luminous Light and NARS Tribulation Blush in this post here.

I pulled a few more to compare.

Tom Ford Stroked Contouring Cheek Colour Duo (discontinued, review here)
Kevyn Aucoin The Celestial Powder in Candlelight (reviewed here)
MAC Mineralized Skinfinish in New Vegas (discontinued)
MAC Mineralized Skinfinish in Soft and Gentle
Estee Lauder Courreges Illuminations Face Powder (limited-edition)

One last shot with partial sunlight reflecting from the mirror to show the complexity of the powder:

Bottom line a winner. I give it a huge thumbs up. The powder has a finely milled texture and although it is very shimmery and very pigmented it blends easily onto the skin. You only need a tiny bit to highlight the cheeks or eyes. I found lasting power to be quite good – it stayed put from morning to late evening and it adheres well to the skin. Since it is so pigmented I recommend using a very loose fluffy brush to apply on the cheeks. I’ve been using either a Stila Powder Brush (one I got years ago with the silver handle, I don’t think they make it anymore) or my MAC Duo Fibre Brush #187 to apply it. I didn’t experience fall out on the face since my skin was well prepped with a layer of serum, moisturizer and foundation. On my arm swatches I didn’t have any product so there was a bit of product that fell off my brush in a few fly-aways.

Overall gorgeous. I highly recommend it unless you’re a fan of the ultra-subtle-almost-invisible shimmer because this one will probably be too shimmery for you. The Becca x Jaclyn Hill Shimmering Skin Perfector in Champagne Pop is limited-edition. Currently exclusive to Sephora. Starting August 10th Sephora is launching their Epic Rewards Perks. One of the 1,000 Point Perks is a Becca set that will include Champagne Pop although I can’t tell if it’s full-sized.

Have you tried Becca highlighters? Which ones are your favorites? I still own some from the days where they had the loose versions in the larger sifter containers. 
23 Comments
Charlotte Tilbury

Charlotte Tilbury x Norman Parkinson Collaboration

August 5, 2015

Charlotte Tilbury has launched a stunning collection in collaboration with the Norman Parkinson Archive. The collection is dedicated to and decorated with the legendary British fashion photographer’s iconic images on the packaging for all the products. The limited-edition collection includes two Matte Revolution Lipsticks, Cosmetic Cases and with new products for the Cheeks. Items with this launch include:

Matte Revolution Lipstick in Miss Kensington ($32)
Matte Revolution Lipstick in 1975 Red ($32)
Color of Youth Healthy, Happy Lip & Cheek Glow ($58)
Dreamy Glow Highlighter ($65)
Filmstar Bronze and Glow Sun Tan and Sun Light ($80)
On Call Makeup Bag ($45)
The Bathing Beauty Bag ($80)

The collection does not disappoint. True to Charlotte Tilbury’s line, the quality of everything is phenomenal in terms of color, pigment, blendability and performance. I was a bit skeptical when I ordered some of the items as they are all pretty high in price point. I had very high hopes for everything but wasn’t sure the items would live up to my expectations given the price points. After testing the collection for a few weeks now, I am pleased to report that all items have far exceeded my expectations.

I reviewed and featured the creamy Sun Tan + Sun Light Filmstar Bronze and Glow in an earlier post comparing it to the original Filmstar Bronze and Glow (renamed Light to Medium) and the new Medium to Dark. The Norman Parkinson version is a cream product with a warm tan brown and a luminous glowy pale gold. As mentioned in my earlier review I found it to be extremely glowy and dewy. Lasting power to be fairly good for a cream product but I prefer the powder version of the Light to Medium. I’m reposting photos here for reference. Swatches of all three side by side and also applied on the face in this post here.
Top is Light to Medium
Bottom is the Norman Parkinson Palette
Right is the Medium to Dark

There are two lipsticks with the collection in the Matte Revolution Lipstick formula. Both are extremely pigmented. There is a light pink called Miss Kensington. In the tube and sunlight it looks like a natural warm pink. On my lips it looks more cool-toned. It’s light but not too pale. If you have dry lips you may want to prep the lips with a bit of lip balm first. The color is very saturated in pigment and adheres well to the lips. Lasting power is very good. As with all of Charlotte Tilbury Lipsticks there is a slight vanilla scent.

The other shade is 1975 Red which is a vibrant orange red cream. Long-time Beauty Look Book readers know this color is way outside of my comfort zone but the color is phenomenal. It’s a super bright orange red but it’s one I think will flatter any skintone. What impressed me was how quickly this one set and how long it lasted. I had no lipstick transfer to my teeth which I find rare for any red lip. It’s a very dramatic bold color.

The final two makeup items are what I’ll call the highlights of the collection. The Colour of Youth is a Lip and Cheek cream product that I think is pure genius. It looks very warm in the pan and swatches warm on the cheeks. On my lips it pulls a bit more cool-toned into a very youthful healthy pink glow. It’s easy to blend and layer – I would say the pigment is sheer to medium but gives more coverage than the Beach Sticks. It’s perfectly named as it does give the face life and color in a youthful way.

Last but not least the Dreamy Glow Highlighter is a powder highlighter. It’s so soft and velvety it almost feels creamy. It is indeed very dreamy with finely milled shimmer that looks glowy and not frosted. It has a soft rose champagne base with a soft golden shimmer. Those who are anti-frost need not worry with this one. It has a very refined glow. It comes with a very high price tag but I think it’s worth every penny. It has a soft rose undertone that makes the skin glow like magic.

I posted comparisons with the NARS Tribulation Blush from fall, here they are again for reference. As you can see below the Charlotte Tilbury Dreamy Highlighter has a slight pinkish cast.

Overall I’m extremely impressed and pleased with the collection. The price points are high but everything is made extremely well and I have to say all the items far exceeded my expectations. I highly recommend the Dreamy Glow Highlighter and Colour of Youth – they add just the right amount of color and glow to make the skin look alive and polished. The Matte Lipstick Revolution shades are very good if you like matte lipsticks. I personally prefer creamy formulas or sheerer ones but both perform really well. Miss Kensington is pale pink perfection without looking too pale or too mod-like. The Sun Tan + Sun Light Filmstar Bronze and Glow is excellent for a cream product but I prefer powder cheek items unless they are in a stick form simply because I find it’s easier to keep clean.

My top two picks are the Dreamy Glow Highlighter and Colour of Youth.

You can find the Charlotte Tilbury x Norman Parkinson Collection at all Charlotte Tilbury retailers now. Online at Beautylish, Bergdorf Goodman, Net-A-Porter, Nordstrom, Selfridges and Charlotte Tilbury. Note that the items are all limited-edition.

The On Call Makeup Bag and 1975 Red Lipstick were gifted.
All other Charlotte Tilbury items featured were purchased by me.

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