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Clarins GWP

Nordstrom Clarins Gift With Purchase

February 5, 2015

Clarins has a new gift with purchase going on at Nordstrom right now with several travel-sized skincare sets to choose from as your gift. With any $85+ purchase you can pick one of three gift sets with promo code SUPER, FIRM or MULTI (enter the code at checkout). There’s a step up as well, if you spend an additional $15 you get a deluxe travel-size Tonic Body Oil (1 oz.). It also comes with a small red travel bag.

The gift options include:

http://rstyle.me/n/bb3p9ubf6

SUPER comes with:
Super Restorative Day Cream (0.53 oz.)
Gentle Refiner Exfoliating Cream (0.5 oz.)
Hand & Nail Treatment Cream (1 oz.)
Beauty Flash Balm (0.53 oz.)
FIRM comes with:
Extra-Firming Day Wrinkle Lifting Cream (0.53 oz.)
One-Step Gentle Exfoliating Cleanser (1 oz.)
Moisture Rich Body Lotion (1 oz.)
Toning Lotion with chamomile (1.7 oz.)
MULTI comes with:
Multi-Active Day Early Wrinkle Correction Cream (0.5 oz.)
Instant Eye Make-Up Remover (1 oz.)
Beauty Flash Balm (0.53 oz.)
Moisture Rich Body Lotion (1 oz.)

I stopped by my local Nordstrom to purchase some items and went with the Super Set since I’ve received a lot of recommendations to try the Hand and Nail Treatment. I thought this would be a good time to try it in a mini. What I bought for the gift and step up:

I’ve been searching for a good face sunscreen that is lightweight, fluid and doesn’t turn my face white.  I usually use the Chanel UV Essentiel SPF 50 which I adore but decided to try something new. I’ve been researching different sun screens and most of what I’ve tested in the store leaves a white cast on the skin. However the Clarins UV Plus HP Multi-Protection Day Screen SPF 40 does not. It has a lightweight fluid feel and leaves the skin with a slightly matte finish. I’ve been using this a few days and like that there’s no sunscreen scent, that it’s very fluid and feels weightless on the skin. There are two size options, the 1 oz is $25, and there is a 1.7 oz that is $40. I opted for the larger size since it’s something both me and my husband will probably share.

The next thing on my list was the Clarins Eclat Minute Instant Light Natural Lip Perfector. I was debating between these or the new Instant Light Lip Balm Perfectors (in a twist up stick). I decided to try the squeeze tubes first since there have been so many raves. I picked up Rose Shimmer 01 which is a light iridescent baby pink that is a really smooth glossy baby pink. It has a soft vanilla scent that isn’t overpowering. It leaves the lips feeling plump and glossy but not tacky.


on the nails, Louboutin Bengali

The third thing I picked up was the Water Purify One-Step Cleanser. I opted for the one for Normal/Combination Skin because of the fresh clean minty scent. It has a soothing feel on the skin and leaves it feeling clean without any residue. The rep emphasized it’s not a regular cleanser and won’t be sufficient alone, but is ok to remove makeup on lazy days occasionally or to refresh the skin.

You can find the Clarins gift with purchase online and in stores at Nordstrom right now, while supplies last. If you order online be sure to enter the code at checkout to redeem your gift. Codes are SUPER, FIRM or MULTI.



Do you have any Clarins favorites? I have my eye on those new lip balms, but I’d love to hear about what else you’ve tried and love.

Many thanks to Nordstrom for sponsoring this post. All items were purchased by me. For more information refer to my disclosures.

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Marc Jacobs Beauty

Marc Jacobs Beauty Enamored Hi-Shine Nail Lacquer – Wine Not

January 28, 2015

Marc Jacobs Beauty recently released two new limited-edition Enamored Hi-Shine Nail Lacquers in Wine Not and Milk ($18 each for 13 ml/0.43 oz). Today I have swatches to share of Wine Not which unfortunately looks like it’s sold out online right now. I am hoping it will be restocked soon because it’s drop dead gorgeous. (For reference, Milk is swatched here.)

Wine Not is a rich metallic berry that gives full opaque coverage with two coats. It has a mix of plum and red in it so depending on the angle the light hits it, this shade might look warm or cool. In natural light it’s a smooth metallic plum. In sunlight it glows.

With two coats you get full opaque coverage. The first coat is a bit sheer and looks dark but add a second coat and it transforms into a lovely berry with minimal visible brush strokes. I was really pleased with how smooth it went on the nail. For some reason this particular polish did seem to soak up the first layer of top coat I used (I used Chanel Laque Brilliance Extreme), I recommend you add two layers of top coat to make it shiny.

Swatch comparisons below show that Wine Not has a more metallic finish with a good mix of red and plum making it the perfect wine. You can definitely find similar colors but as shown below many others lack that red glow Wine Not has when you see it in sunlight.

Chanel Cosmic Violine (discontinued)
Chanel Tulipe Noire (discontinued)
Chanel Vamp (review here)
Dior Galaxie (discontinued, review)
Chanel Malice (discontinued, review)
Tom Ford Minx (discontinued)

In full sunlight it flashes more red/wine:

Marc Jacobs Beauty is gorgeous. I’m keeping my fingers crossed that it will come back in stock online or eventually show up at Sephora. I’ve reached out to see if this will be restocked soon – I’ll update this post as soon as I have more information. In the meantime I hope the comparison swatches help in case you want something similar and have any of the other shades, you can shop your stash for now. Marc Jacobs Wine Not is currently exclusive online at Marc Jacobs Beauty. now available at Sephora.com.

What’s your favorite metallic plum/wine nail polish?

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Hourglass Cosmetics

Hourglass Modernist Eyeshadow Palette in Infinity

January 22, 2015

Hourglass just released seven new eyeshadows called the Modernist Eyeshadow Palette ($58 each for 5 x 0.035 oz/1.0g). Each palette seems to offer a diverse range of textures and finishes. There are different color variations for a soft to more dramatic eye. I went with the safe option and purchased Infinity a soft palette of warm neutrals which includes Warm Ivory, Dusty Rose, Bronzed Mauve, Cool Taupe, Dark Cocoa.

The shadows are extremely soft powders with an easy to blend texture. Pigment is very good on this palette and easy to blend and layer for a softly defined eye. Many of my readers have commented on the lack of soft satiny matte palettes in the high-end beauty market. If you’ve been on the hunt for a good palette of soft mattes (with one wearable shimmer) this is the answer to what you’ve been searching for. The only downside is the soft texture is so soft that there is a lot of powder kick-up when you swipe the palette with the brush. I didn’t find that the powder fallout translated to how it applied on the eyes though. With a good brush (like MAC 217, 219 or 239) I was able to get a soft medium gradient.

With soft neutral mattes like these sometimes the colors can end up looking muted or the same on the lids. I like to start with the medium shimmer shades first and then add the others to either highlight or contour the rest of the eye. The middle shimmer color is very soft but adheres well to the lids. The other mattes are softer and lighter in texture (although they have good pigment) and for me are better used as washes. The darkest color is best used with a damp brush or over a creamy liner to help the enhance the pigment.

The packaging and product design is incredibly unique. The powders in the compact are pressed together making them look like a wave pattern. When there is no separator between colors in palettes I usually get worried. I like tiny dividers because I find they make it easier for me to dip my brush into the palette without having to worry about mixing colors. The stripes are large enough for my MAC brushes for now. I do wonder how it will work once the surface is worn down after use.

They come packaged in a similar design to the Ambient Lighting Powder Palette, but the Modernist Eyeshadow Palettes are smaller. For the price and for consistency, I do wish they were larger in size.

Swatches:

Larger and heavier swatches:

Comparisons:

Burberry Nude Blush (review)
Urban Decay Naked2 Basics (swatched)

Tom Ford Orchid Haze (review)
Tom Ford Cocoa Mirage (review)

Based on the comparisons above you can see similarities in the shades to other palettes. If you own a lot of neutrals you may find this easy to dupe. To me it seems to be a cross between Orchid Haze and Cocoa Mirage from Tom Ford. I’ve found this palette beautiful to wear and gives a lovely soft defined eye. I do wish the powder texture was a bit less soft because the palette itself can get quite messy with the powder kick-up, although as mentioned above, they meld nicely on the eyes and I experienced no fall out once I put it on the skin.

I know from reading other reviews that there are mixed thoughts on this, my recommendation is try before you buy if you are skeptical. Reviews with thumbs up from Goss Makeup Artist. Lukewarm review from Color Me Loud. Thumbs down from Temptalia.

I personally am really happy with my purchase, I haven’t seen or tested the others to give you a review on the entire collection of the Modernist Palettes (some look like they have more dramatic sparkles). Given the mixed reviews I don’t suspect this will be a universally loved palette, but I do know I’m not alone with my thumbs up thoughts on this.

You can find the Hourglass Modernist Eyeshadow Palettes now at Sephora, Barneys New York and Hourglass Cosmetics. It will be available at other retailers later this month.

Did you try any of these palettes? What did you think? 

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Beauty Tools Wayne Goss

Wayne Goss – The Holiday Brushes (2014)

January 19, 2015

On the nails: Dior Lady

I’m late to the game with the Wayne Goss Holiday Brushes in White and Black ($85 each, limited-edition) but I am really happy I was able to get both as they were produced in limited quantities for last holiday (the white one is already sold out). These are exclusive to Beautylish and although I almost always purchase brushes I can see and touch in person, I made an exception and ordered them sight unseen after seeing it featured on @raeview’s Instagram (also featured on her December Hits/Misses video). I’m so glad that I did.

This year he released a Black and White version:

The Wayne Goss Holiday Brush is a large tapered powder brush. It’s dense, fluffy and ultra soft. All of his brushes are all hand made (cruelty free) and none of the hairs are cut – the two holiday brushes are the first that I’ve tried from his line for face brushes and I am really impressed. They both pick up just the right amount of product with just one or two swipes. I’ve tested it on pressed setting powder, bronzer, highlighter and blushes. The tapered shape makes it extremely versatile for all sort of powder face makeup. I really like these for blush and bronzer.




MAC Sheertone Blush in Tenderling



For me, it’s been challenging to find a brush with this particular shape and size – most tapered brushes I’ve seen are quite a bit smaller. The MAC 138 is similar in size and density but the ones designed by Wayne Goss by comparison are much softer in texture and feel like silk on the skin. In my entire brush collection, my Tom Ford brushes are the softest that I own. These holiday brushes from Wayne Goss are just as soft.

For my testing, the Black Holiday brush has gone through two washings already. It does fluff up a little bit after the first wash but it still retains its shape. I photographed it next to an unwashed/unused white one before I tried it. For me there was no shedding or color bleeding with the first or second wash.

If you’re crying over the fact that the White Holiday brush is sold out, I found both the White and Black versions to be identical in texture, density, softness and performance. I would still be crying if I didn’t get the white version since I have a soft spot for white fluffy brushes, but they are both identical and I probably didn’t need both. That being said I am really happy I have both, I’ve found them both to be very gentle on the skin and effective at pickup up product and giving you a super smooth and even makeup application with powders, bronzers and blushes. For me they are both worth every penny even though the price is on the steep side. They are well made and very good quality.

If you haven’t checked out the Wayne Goss Holiday Brush, I highly recommend you do soon. It’s limited-edition and exclusive to Beautylish. Have you tried any of the brushes from Wayne Goss? What are your favorites?

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Armani Eye Makeup

Giorgio Armani Eye Tints – Onyx, Cold Copper, Senso, Rose Ashes and Gold Ashes

January 13, 2015

Giorgio Armani’s latest includes a new liquid/cream eyeshadow called Eye Tints ($38 each for 6.5 ml/0.22 fl oz, made in France). These eyeshadows are all shimmery and come in twelve different colors. I ordered several sight unseen and literally gasped when I opened the boxes. They are really beautiful.

The shades above, left to right (note the tubes themselves only have numbers as labels):

  • Onyx 5 is a super sparkly olive green with silver and green shimmers
  • Cold Copper 9 is a smooth shimmer neutral tan
  • Senso 10 is a unique plum brown bronze shimmer
  • Rose Ashes 11 is a warm peachy gold base that flashes pink and rose 
  • Gold Ashes 12 is a super sparkly cool-toned champagne shimmer
These Armani Eye Tints have a fluid texture but aren’t so fluid that they are like liquids. There is a bit of thickness to them which makes them slightly like a cream, but the texture is still on the fluid side. The color sheers out once you blend them but it is easy to build and blend. I’ve been playing with these all last week – my favorite way to apply is straight from the tube onto the lids and then blend on the eyes with a finger.

Onyx and Gold Ashes are extremely sparkly, but not quite as frosted or as pigmented as Armani Eyes to Kill shadows and not as glitzy as some of the Chanel Illusion D’Ombres. I’ve tried Gold Ashes all over the lids and it blends out really nicely for an even wash of sparkle. The other shades Cold Copper, Sense and Rose Ashes have a more finely milled shimmer. In terms of lasting power, I found these dried down to a satiny finish on the eyes after they set and lasted all day without budging. You can layer a powder shadow on top of these but if you do, I recommend working quickly with your shadows – these tend to set and dry quickly, although it’s not immediate which allows you to blend and layer, dry time is on the fast side (at least for me).

For reference, Café Makeup has all the shades swatched and Color Me Loud has a detailed review on Senso #10.

These come with a beveled sponge tip applicator:

Close up of all the shades:

Swiped straight from the tube:

Swiped on a larger area:

Comparison swatches:

Chanel Illusion D’Ombre in Epatant (review)
Chanel Illusion D’Ombre in Mirage (review)
NARS Dual Intensity Eyeshadow in Himalia (review)
Nudestix Magnetic Eye Color in Twilight (review)
Chanel llusion D’Ombre in New Moon (d/c, review)
By Terry Ombre Blackstar in Bronze Moon (swatches)
Armani Eyes to Kill 9

I really like these, although I am partial to the Eyes to Kill Intense Shadows. I know many have found those too shimmery and too intense so if you’re looking for something softer I recommend you check out the Eye Tints. They have a smooth texture that offers light to medium buildable coverage. 

Armani Eye Tints retail for $38 each. Currently available at Nordstrom, Neiman Marcus, Saks and Giorgio Armani Beauty. Have you checked out these new shadows yet?
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Diptyque Fragrance Home / Interiors

Diptyque Rosafolia

January 10, 2015

This spring Diptyque has released a the new rose-themed collection called Rosafolia. It includes three new items including the Rosafolia Candle, Scented Oval and a new perfume called Eau Plurielle. I ordered the candle which comes in a beautiful limited-edition white jar with a lovely rose and ivy design. This year’s special rose scent has a new fresh twist on rose. The best way I can describe it is as a green rose.

Per Diptyque, Rosafolia is “a scented candle whose verdure, enhanced by a touch of galbanum, is gracefully diffused at the heart of Turkish rose absolute, the softness of petals sharpened by the understated vitality from a hint of geranium.” There is a green touch to it which rounds out the floral notes. Compared to last year’s Rosamundi, Rosafloria is clearly more green and with a fresher and slightly sweeter touch. Last year’s Diptyque special rose release was a bit more floral and almost powdery in scent.

Rosafolia is bottom line gorgeous. I highly recommend you check it out. I ordered mine from Diptyque South Coast Plaza. It’s also available now online at Nordstrom and Diptyque.

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Charlotte Tilbury Lips

Charlotte Tilbury K.I.S.S.I.N.G Lipsticks and Lip Lustres – Neutral Lip Perfection

January 7, 2015

If you’re like me and are obsessed with neutral lipsticks and glosses, you might be very curious about the Charlotte Tilbury K.I.S.S.I.N.G Lipsticks and Lip Lustres. The line is currently available at select counters and stores right now so you may not have easy access to the line. Buying nudes lip colors sight unseen can be a bit risky – not all nudes are wearable and everyone has a different definition of what they consider nude or neutral. I ordered Bitch Perfect, Nude Kate, Blondie and Sweet Stiletto sight unseen last August. I was really pleased with these but wanted to wait to see the rest of the colors in person before ordering more. In October, I was thrilled to be able to attend the Charlotte Tilbury Nordstrom launch at The Grove last year and took that time to look at all the nudes in person. They all looked phenomenal and I made a wish list. Even after seeing them all in person it took me a few weeks to decide whether or not to jump and purchase more (after all I have enough nude lipsticks to last multiple lifetimes).

Today I have six of the K.I.S.S.I.N.G Lipsticks and five of the Lip Lustres to share with you. All of them swatched side by side to show you the differences and similarities with comparisons and photos of how they look on my lips.

First up are the neutral K.I.S.S.I.N.G Lipsticks ($32 each). Left to right is Nude Kate, Hepburn Honey, Penelope Pink, Bitch Perfect, Confession and Stoned Rose. All of these lean neutral or on the warm side which I think make them easier to wear and more naturally flattering on the skin. Some of them look remarkably similar in the tubes side by side. I’ll add my descriptions on the differences below. With the exception of Confession, all are permanent and have cream finishes (without shimmer). These are high in pigment and full coverage. Fragrance wise there is a very soft nice vanilla scent, it fades after a minute. They have a creamy finish with a slight sheen. Lasting power is quite good and the colors adhere really nicely to the lips. Due to the pigment, I do think you need to have a well-prepped lip before applying otherwise they will emphasize lip lines. While they aren’t really moisturizing, they do have a nice cushiony feel and I was happy to find that they did not dry out my lips. For recs on lip prep, check out this post Lip Primers and Lip Balms in Rotation.

Nude Kate is a flesh-toned beige nude cream, this for me is a true nude
Hepburn Honey is a honey-toned neutral nude beige
Penelope Pink is a pink-nude beige, leaning more pink than Nude Kate
Bitch Perfect is a pinky-peachy medium pink neutral
Confession is a medium rose-nude with golden shimmer
Stoned Rose is a warm almost terra-cotta nude rose cream

Swatch comparisons to other neutrals below:

Tom Ford Lip Color in Nude Vanille
Tom Ford Lip Color Sable Smoke (review)
NARS Audacious Lipstick in Barbara and Brigette (review)

The Lip Lustres Lip Lacquers ($22 each) range from creams to sheers to shimmers to sparkles. Out of all the neutrals, I don’t own Bardot Beige or Portobello Girl, but here are the ones I do own. The coverage is sheer to medium on these. I find them pigmented enough to wear alone, but for the shimmers I think they work best layered over other lipsticks to add dimension and shine. They are a bit sticky but not tacky. I really love these glosses.

Lucy in the Sky With Diamonds is a sparkling light beige nude pink
Seduction is a creamy beige nude cream
Ibiza Nights is a super sparkly sheer golden champagne
Blondie is a pink base with cool-toned champagne frost
Sweet Stiletto is medium warm neutral rose

High Society is a medium plummy color, it’s not a neutral/nude but I added it for comparison purposes below:

Comparisons below:

Laura Mercier Lip Glace in Bare Baby (swatch mislabled)
MAC Lipglass in Bijou (discontinued, review here)
Tom Ford Tawny Pink (discontinued)
NARS Lipgloss in Belize
NARS Lipgloss in Dolce Vita (review)

I hope you found this roundup and swatch lineup helpful, especially if you can’t see the Charlotte Tilbury beauty line in person before purchasing. For the lipsticks, I hate to say this, but I think every single one is perfection for a neutral lip. I think Nude Kate is the truest nude in the sense that it is a flesh-toned nude. I was worried it would be too pale but it has enough color to not wash out the complexion. That being said, I think Hepburn Honey and Penelope Pink will be easier to wear for a nude color since there is more pigment and depth. If you want more color but still want something natural Bitch Perfect and Stoned Rose are good to look into.

For the Lip Lustres, your mileage may vary depending on what kind of gloss you are looking for. If you want a full coverage high pigment gloss, you might not like these. They have medium pigment and a natural shine which I find really flattering on the lips.

Have you tried Charlotte Tilbury’s beauty items yet? What are your
favorites? I’m still working my way through testing out items from the
line but so far I’ve really liked most of what I’ve tested. Would love
to hear about your favorites!

You can find Charlotte Tilbury online at Nordstrom, Beautylish, Bergdorf Goodman, Net-A-Porter, Selfridges and Charlotte Tilbury.

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