Bronzer + Blush Archives - Page 7 of 9

Sisley-Paris Phyto-Blush Twist

March 16, 2017

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

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

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

Lip colors with each blush swatch:

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

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

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

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

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

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

Phyto-Blush Twists provided courtesy of Sisley for review.

12 Comments

Bronzer + Blush MAC

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

March 15, 2017

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

6 Comments

Bronzer + Blush Chanel Eye Makeup Highlighters

Chanel Energies Et Puretes Makeup Collection – Spring 2017

March 14, 2017

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

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

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

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

Swatch comparisons:

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

Left is Tweed Cherry Blossom, right is Tweed Coralline:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

21 Comments

Bronzer + Blush NARS

NARS Pop Goes the Easel – Nordstrom Exclusive

March 9, 2017

Happy Thursday everyone! I’m back and have a review of the NARS Pop Goes the Easel collection today. This is currently a Nordstrom Exclusive collection with new shades for lips and cheeks consisting of:

Three new Powder Blushes ($30 each) in Misconduct, Peep Show and Threesome
Four new Velvet Lip Glides ($26 to $28 each) in Bait, Suck, Impossible Red and Disruptor (not sure why one shade is listed at a higher price online)
Three Sheer Pop Multiples ($39 each) in Motu Tane, Cote Basque and Navagio Beach

I ordered two of the lip products and all three multiples to test out. I’ll say up front I love the Sheer Pop Multiples, the Velvet Lip Glide colors are nice but not must-haves in my opinion.

Up first are the Velvet Lip Glides. I picked the lightest color options in Bait and Suck since I don’t really wear a lot of orange or reds unless they’re sheer. (By the way I’m obsessed with the new Tom Ford Lip Balms, the colors are perfect for spring to summer and I love the formula.) Bait is a bright cool-toned pink that has a bit of a streaky finish with one swipe but it can be smoothed out with a finger or brush. Suck is a medium peachy nude, it’s like if you mixed Playpen and Unlaced (both of which were reviewed here and I didn’t really like color-wise). I do like this color, but I can’t help but feel like it’s a bit on the boring side. If you want a good neutral nude, the Tom Ford Revolve Around Me, Lips and Boys Bradley or Edward Bess Pure Impulse are much better although they are lipsticks versus the velvet lip formula.

Next are the Sheer Pop Multiples which appear to be a new formula. These have a more weightless formula that isn’t quite as dewy as the regular version. These have a soft shimmer finish and considering how sheer they swatched on the hand and arms I was surprised that the color payoff on the face is really good. Navagio Beach is a sheer champagne gold, Motu Tane is a light pink with impressive pigment, Cote Basque is a coral with tiny gold flecks of shimmer. They dry to a powdery finish although they stay creamy long enough that you can easily blend on the cheeks and layer depending on how much color you want. I would say the finish can definitely be sheered out for a sheer wash of color, but you can still build to medium coverage. I like these better than the regular multiples. They layer well over foundation and powder without looking cakey or dragging your base off the face.

A quick comparison of the Navagio Beach Multiple to the Banc de Sable Highlighter Palette. The palette is to die for gorgeous and I’ll review it soon. If you’re one who want a sheerer glow of shimmer go with the multiple. If you want more pigment go with the palette. Are they different enough to justify both? I think the formulas are different enough to justify both but I’ll have to do a bit more testing with both on the face at the same time to tell you. I’ll be sure to address this when I review the palette. At the moment I’m more inclined to say I like the palette more – but that’s mainly because I like the darkest shade A LOT.

I’m trying something a bit different with face looks of the products. If you prefer the up close lip swatches let me know and I’ll resume that style in future posts. In both posts I’m wearing the Tom Ford Waterproof Foundation in Bisque with Charlotte Tilbury Flawless Finish Powder #2.

Look 1 has Sheer Pop Multiple in Motu Tane and Velvet Lip Glide in Bait.

Look 2 has Sheer Pop Multiple in Cote Basque and Navagio Beach mixed with Velvet Lip Glide in Suck.

Overall love the Multiples. I like the Velvet Lip Glide colors but don’t think they are must-haves. Bound is still my favorite out of the bunch, but if you found the nudes in the original launch off, I think many will find the color Suck more wearable.

You can find the NARS Pop Goes the Easel collection exclusively at Nordstrom. Have you checked out the colors yet? If you saw the powder blushes in person let me know what you thought!

P.S. My site has been migrated to a new host! If you have any issues with viewing the posts on your desktop or mobile device please shoot me an e-mail and let me know what device you use and also what browser you use (Chrome, Safari, Firefox etc.) – thanks!

25 Comments

Bronzer + Blush NARS Sephora

NARSissist Unfiltered Cheek Palettes I and II

December 21, 2016

NARS has two new cheek palettes called the NARSissist Unfiltered Cheek Palettes I and II ($59 each for 0.12 oz / 3.5g x6). These launched early at Sephora for as a Cyber Monday sneak preview for spring launches and I ordered them sight unseen. Update: back in stock now at Sephora but you can enter your email for notification for when they are back in stock. Right now you can find both online at NARS Cosmetics. They launch officially at other counters starting February 1st.

I’ve been a long time NARS fan and I love blush and highlighters. Both of these palettes have good-sized pans, pigment and texture is very good across all colors, and the color options in each are excellent. That being said NARS has released quite a few cheek palettes this year so if you already own other palettes or individual shades I suspect you will have a lot of similar colors or dupes and may want to shop your stash. Each palette has a mix of matte and shimmers shades for blush along with a few lighter colors that can be used as highlighters. These have a colorful tinted cover and come in a very sturdy mirrored compact.

Unfiltered I has deeper and darker tones with a bold vibe. The top three shades in the palette are easy for me to wear for my medium-toned olive skin (for reference I mix NARS Velvet Matte Skin Tints in Groenland and St. Moritz). The bottom three colors are really dark and bold on my skin and I have to use with a super light hand or blend like crazy otherwise they are too dark for my complexion. Colors include:

Watch Me a shimmering light gold
Me First a shimmering soft peach
Takeover a gorgeous bronze nude shimmer (can they please make this in a single?!)
Out There is a matte deep reddish brown
Chic is a matte plum
Exhibit A is a bright vibrant red

Unfiltered II has lighter cooler tones. Pigment is good but if you are tan to deep these may not show up on you as the colors pull on the lighter side. For me this palette is easier to wear for everyday. Colors are:

Conquest a matte baby pink that darkens after it sets
Undefeated looks like a medium babydoll pink in the pan, on my skin it applies more like a highlighter
Power Play is a medium matte cool pink
Hot Sand is a champagne shimmer highlighter (also reviewed here)
Fame is a satiny peach
Candid is a raspberry shimmer

For size comparison, here is a full size blush pan shown below from the Pro Palette Format, the NARSissist Cheek Studio Palette from Spring 2016, a Chanel Blush Brush and Charlotte Tilbury Powder Sculpt Brush.

Two quick looks:

Foundation is NARS Velvet Matte Skin Tint in Groenland and St. Moritz mixed
Powder is Laura Mercier Candleglow #2
Concealer is Laura Mercier Candleglow #1 and #2 mixed
Brows are the Diorshow Browstyler
Right Look = Unfiltered I Palette with the top three shades mixed in Watch Me, Me First and Takeover with Exhibit A on top, lips are Tom Ford Moisturecore Lip Color in Pipa (reviewed here and here)
Left look is Unfiltered II with Conquest + Power Play on the cheeks, Chanel Rouge Allure Gloss in Sensible on the Lips

One last look:

Bottom line both are solid performers. In previously released NARS palettes the texture can be hit or miss with some shades, but with both of the Unfiltered Cheek Palettes colors and highlighters have consistent quality, pigment and are easy to layer/blend. If you already splurged on other NARS palettes this year you may want to shop your stash. My personal favorite this year is still the NARSissist Dual Intensity Cheek Palette (you can still find it at Nordstrom reviewed and swatched in this post here). Still both of these new launches from NARS have a good mix of colors and finishes in a palette which make them convenient for travel.

Both are limited-edition. I ordered mine from Sephora but you can find them now at NARS Cosmetics. Launching everywhere else later this spring starting February.

Did you try these yet? What did you think?

5 Comments

Bronzer + Blush Eye Makeup Tom Ford Beauty

Tom Ford Beauty AW16 Color Collection

September 18, 2016

For fall Tom Ford Beauty has launched new items for lips and eyes along with a few repromoted shades. Many of you have been eagerly waiting for the review and I can say that the new launches do not disappoint. By now the items have arrived in store and counters – I ordered these sight unseen and only have one that I would say I regret buying. For the AW16 Color Collection, items include:

Lip Contour Duos in eight colors ($53 each)
Cream Color for Eyes in Pink Haze and Platinum, both repromotes ($45 each)
Lip Contour Duo AW16 Runway ($53)
Eye Color Duo AW16 Runway ($60)
Cheek Color in Love Lust, repromoted shade ($60)

The item I was most excited about was the Eye Color Duo called AW16 which was featured on the runway for this year’s fashion week. The online stock photos are not accurate though. Based on the online images I expected a soft peachy shimmer and neutral-cool brown taupe neutral shimmer. The duo is a lot more neutral in real life. Many of you have asked how it compares to Nude Dip (originally reviewed here). I’ll show comparisons below. As a die hard Tom Ford eyeshadow lover there was nothing that would have stopped me from purchasing it. There are subtle differences if you look closely. The duo has a brighter shimmer for the pale side and the deep side is deeper than Nude Dip’s darkest color. However they are remarkably similar. Texture is the same for the duo and quads which is my favorite formula from Tom Ford. They are very pigmented and easy to blend. The shimmer is just unmatched with any other brand.

AW16:

AW16 layered over Platinum (the right side looks faded because I hold my camera sideways and the flash always washes that side out):

Nude Dip vs AW16:

AW16 swatched on the left, Nude Dip on the right:

Next are the Cream Color for eyes, both repromoted shades Pink Haze and Platinum. I’ve received dozens of requests for swatches compared to the originals (yes I still have them, they are still good and haven’t turned in color or scent) and also compared to the Golden Peach Cream Powder Duo. The artist at my local counter said they were different, I think they are really close so there’s no need to re-buy if you already own these from past seasons. These are some of my favorite cream shadows. They are easy to blend, super creamy and work well with my skintype. I like layering them together for an effortless look.

Pink Haze is a medium warm pink shimmer. Platinum is the perfect fawn brown taupe.

Love Lust was repromoted with this launch but when I saw photos pop up online it looked drastically different from the one I own. Out of curiosity I had to buy it. I adore Tom Ford Blushes anyways so having an extra one was ok in my mind. It’s been a while since I’ve looked at their blushes because they really do last a long time, but the current one is lighter and less peach than the original one I have. I don’t know if there are differences in batches or if they changed the color. If you own it let me know what you think yours looks like.

Swatch comparisons:

Last but not least are the Lip Contour Duos. Each product has a lip shaping liner with tiny glitter flecks and a cream lip color on the other end. The liners match the lipstick and they are both full coverage. The liners are on the stiff side and I broke the tips of a few when I applied them on bare lips although I will say they were a bit on the dry side. I found application best for the liner if I prepped the lips with a bit of balm first and then applied in short strokes. For me the liner glitter isn’t as chunky as I expected and is very subtle so even the conservative makeup-wearer can still wear these. The liners have a matte finish and truly extend the lasting power of the lip color. For me when I used the liner the lip color lasted a lot longer.

The lipstick side is a full coverage cream. They have a soft finish and glide across the lips. Many of the shades have a 90’s vibe to me and as a neutral lip lover I found quite a few options I can wear for everyday. In addition there are some lovely pinks, mauves and a plum. I skipped the bright reds as the only two reds I really wear are Edward Bess Amor Lip Gloss or the Louboutin Rouge Loubilaque.

There’s the AW16 Lip Contour Duo shade and eight in the regular Lip Contour Duo lineup (I picked out the lightest ones):

Colors as they apply on me, liners match lipstick almost exactly with the exception that the liners have tiny gold flecks:

AW16 is a super pale beige cream, this is the only shade I regret buying, alone it’s just pure death, if I layer a pinky or peachy gloss on top I can make it work
Public Display is a beige cream nude
Fling it On is a peachy pink color
Dream Obscene is a mauvey lilac color
Show it Off is a mauve plum (my favorite!)
I’ll Teach You is a deep fuschia pink
Make Me is a drop dead gorgeous plum

Close ups, first the lipstick:

Lip liner side:

Quick look with AW16 + Platinum for eyes, Love Lust on the cheeks (current version which is almost like a highlighter on my skintone) and Public Display on the lips:

As a huge fan of Tom Ford Beauty I think there are some lovely items in the fall collection. The prices are among the highest in the beauty world but in my experience the quality, color payoff and textures are really good. The AW16 Duo has a lot of similar qualities to Nude Dip so if you’re debating which one to get, I’d say go for Nude Dip.

Out of the Lip Contour Duos, my favorites actually are the mauves and plums with Show It Off being the winner for me. In the neutral zone I think there are some good options but regular lip colors like Pink Dusk, Revolve Around Me and Spanish Pink are still my favorite neutrals from his line. Still the Lip Contour Duos are solid performers and the lipstick side is among the creamiest formula I’ve tried with full coverage in one swipe.

At this time I’m not sure which items are permanent or limited-edition. I think it’s safe to say the AW16 items are limited. There are also some new Private Blend Fragrances that have launched. I gave them a brief sniff at the counter and got a mini sample made of one, but of course I’ve forgotten where I put it and can’t remember which one it was. Once I find it I’ll report back.

You can find the Tom Ford Beauty Autumn Winter collection at Tom Ford counters now. Online at Nordstrom, Neiman Marcus, Bergdorf Goodman, Saks Fifth Avenue and Tom Ford. Note that the BG Rewarding Beauty event is still going on through the 18th – as Tom Ford is pretty spendy the event is a nice time to have some savings off splurges. Details in this post.

Have you checked out the Tom Ford fall collection items yet?

What did you think? Any winners for you?

35 Comments

Bronzer + Blush Marc Jacobs Beauty

Marc Jacobs Beauty Air Blush Soft Glow Duo Review

September 4, 2016

Marc Jacobs Beauty launched five shades of blush called the Air Blush Soft Glow Duo ($42 each for 8 g / 0.282 oz, made in Italy). I bought three of the shades back at the end of July and have been obsessed ever since. It was literally love at first swipe. I was just about to post my review when a surprise press box of all the colors arrived so I re-photographed and re-swatched everything all together for a comprehensive post. There are five colors total and although not new, they recommend the Angled Blush Brush ($38, reviewed here) for application.

The Marc Jacobs Beauty Air Blush has a similar concept to that of the Hourglass Ambient Lighting Blushes (reviewed here) in the sense that both contain two colors in each compact, one being a lighter softer shade and the other being a deeper or brighter blush color. The Hourglass blushes all have a highlighter color swirled in so they have a more luminous shimmer on the skin while the Marc Jacobs Beauty ones have a more satiny finish with less shimmer.

At $42 each I was expecting to be slightly disappointed because they are very expensive and I thought there might be a chance that they would not live up to my expectations because of the price. After testing these though I am pleased to report a thumbs up. They are indeed everything others have been raving about. The texture is indeed silky soft like they claim with a finish that looks like skin (not powdery) and they add a nice radiant natural glow to the cheeks. If you’re one who avoids shimmer blush at all costs but have been wanting something that glows this is it. It has a similar finish on the skin to that of Chanel blushes (US versions) that have a soft shimmer. I’m still not really thrilled about the price but I have no complaints as the quality, finish, packaging and colors are really superb.

The three shades I picked out were Kinks and Kisses, Lush and Libido and Flesh and Fantasy. After testing out the other two shades, I still think my first picks were the best ones for my skintone. These are striped with alternating colors which makes blending the two shades perfect. I really love the fact that each end has a slightly larger area of color so you can actually customize the intensity or color. Swirl the brush more on the left side for a lighter finish or dip it into the right side for more pigment and deeper color.

Colors described as I see them:

Kinks and Kisses is the perfect peachy pink mix
Flesh and Fantasy is a neutral nude, it has enough warmth so it’s not like a contour powder
Night Fever and Hot Stuff is the deepest option, I thought it would be too dark but it’s a very pretty plum with hint of cherry pink
Lines and Last Night is a peachy tangerine glow
Lush and Libido is a cool-toned orchid pink

Swatched side by side:

A look at each shade individually, up first is Lush and Libido. First two swatches are individual colors, last one is swirled. This is the same for all the other swatches below:

Lines and Last Night:

Kinks and Kisses:

Flesh and Fantasy:

Night Fever and Hot Stuff:

A few comparison swatches to show the difference in pigment, undertone and shimmer. What I like about the Marc Jacobs Beauty Air Blush is that they look soft and luminous on the skin, but the luminosity is diffused unlike other glowy products so if you photograph with a flash there’s no glare like with other strong shimmers.

Hourglass Ambient Lighting Blush in Radiant Magenta (reviewed here) is warmer than MJB Lush and Libido (I have a very slight preference for the Hourglass one just because I like warmer colors, but both are very pretty)
Hourglass Ambient Lighting Blush in Incandescent Electra (review here) is lighter, cooler toned, and more glowy than MJB Lines and Last Night or Kinks and Kisses
Becca Luminous Blushes in Foxglove and Dahlia (reviewed here) are a lot more pigmented and intense and offer a more dramatic glow

Two looks, left shows Lines and Last Night on the cheeks, right shows Lush and Libido:

Other makeup worn:

Foundation: Becca Aqua Luminous Foundation in Beige (review)
Powder: NARS All Day Luminous Powder Foundation in Punjab (review)
Eyes: Marc Jacobs Beauty Style Eye-Con No. 7 in Social Butterfly (review)
Brows: Chanel La Palette Sourcils de Chanel in Brun 50 (review)
Lips: Left side is Marc Jacobs Enamored Hi Shine Lip Lacquer in Some Girls (review), Right side is Dior Addict Fluid Stick in Milky Plum

Bottom line thumbs up. These have the perfect in between mix of satin and shimmer. They are luminous in a very natural sense so there’s no glare from shimmer or frost, yet there’s enough glow to give the skin that soft sheen. They are powdery so there is kick up like with most powder blushes. There’s no detectable scent in these which is a huge plus for someone like myself who has a sensitive nose. Even better – these don’t emphasize pores or imperfections on the cheeks. No irritation either. They do warm up on the skin very slightly but don’t darken a lot. In terms of lasting power I found these did stay put from morning to late afternoon without fading or sliding. I still am unsure how I feel about the $42 price tag but then I have paid more for Chanel, Tom Ford, NARS Dual Intensity Blushes to name a few. In my mind I still think of blush as something that should be in the $18 to $35 range at most but I like the decent sized compact and the fact that they don’t waste compact space on a mini brush which I usually find useless in most powder or blush compacts.

In terms of the brushes to use, any blush brush will do. I tried this with the recommended Marc Jacobs Beauty Angled Brush (which I had from holiday) and this gives the most sheer and natural finish on the cheeks. The bristles are soft and while they do pick up color, they dispense a sheer wash of color. I also tried this with the Chanel Blush Brush and MAC Angled Contour Brush #168 (both my most reached for blush brushes) and both worked equally well. They did pick up more color than the one from Marc Jacobs. I like those two because the size is perfect for my cheek shape and face size.

Although these are spendy I don’t think you’ll be disappointed if you splurge on one. There’s nothing bad I can say about these. Formula and packaging are both on point. There seems to be a wide range of colors to suit anyone’s taste and I do think they are shades that are versatile no matter what skin tone or undertone you have.

You can find the Marc Jacobs Beauty Air Blush Soft Glow Duos at Marc Jacobs Beauty, Sephora, Neiman Marcus and Bergdorf Goodman. Have you tried these yet? What did you think?

Blushes and brush gifted by the Marc Jacobs Beauty team for review, although I did also purchase three of the shades to test out long before I discovered a press box was on it’s way.

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