Highlighters Archives - Page 2 of 11

Luxury Highlighter Edit: Westman Atelier, La Mer + Tom Ford

October 29, 2019

I have a mini luxury highlighter edit today with some new to me formulas from Westman Atelier, La Mer and Tom Ford Beauty. I have swatches and makeup looks for all five colors in today’s roundup. At this point I have enough highlighters to last me multiple lifetimes! There are quite a few new launches out from many brands. I narrowed down my picks to the colors and formulas that interested me the most. For a quick roundup of my favorite existing ones to date, scroll down to the end and I’ll summarize my top picks compared to the new ones I tested.

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Westman Atelier Super Loaded Tint Highlight

For months SO MANY of you have been begging me to review products from Westman Atelier. The packaging and rave reviews had me intrigued along with the small edited range. I held off for so long because I was hoping to see everything in person but decided to order the Super Loaded Tints ($75 each for 4 g/0.14 oz) in Peau de Peche and Peau de Soleil sight unseen because curiosity got the best of me and I could not be happier. I bought mine from Barney’s.

As everyone has mentioned about the line the packaging is exquisite. These come in a hefty mirrored compact that feels luxurious and special when you hold it. The highlighters are a lovely cream to powder finish that have the most lovely shimmer and glow with an easy to blend finish. They are both deeper than traditional champagne colored highlighters which I love. Peau de Peche is a multi-dimensional soft rosy bronze pearl on my skin and if you’re fair it will look more rosy/bronze. I love this on the cheek bones or eyes. It’s absolutely stunning and I cannot rave enough about it.

Above left wearing just the highlighter on the cheeks, on the right added MAC Peaches, full breakdown:

Foundation Armani Luminous Silk Foundation in 6.5
Powder Hourglass Ambient Lighting Powder in Dim Light to set
Highlighter Westman Atelier Peau de Peche
Blush MAC Peaches (just added on the right)
Eyeshadow Natasha Denona Mini Nude Eye Palette
Lips Pat McGrath Lip Pencil Done Undone + Fenty Gloss Bomb in Fenty Glow
Sweater from Nordstrom
Nail Polish Chanel Vamp

Peau de Soleil is a newer color that launched in the summer. I’m a sucker for anything bronze and this one has a golden bronze shimmer with visible yellow gold flecks. On my olive skin it pulls a little yellow with the sheen so I can’t wear it alone on my cheeks. I have to pair it with something pink or peach as a blush, but I ADORE this one on the eyes.

Lasting power is excellent. Finish is shimmery but make the skin look radiant. For application I’ve been using either my fingers, the MAC 133S brush or Laura Mercier Creme Cheek Brush. I’m seriously tempted to buy one of her brushes but I would rather save for another one of her makeup products like the foundation or bronzer.

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La Mer The Glow Highlighter

I’m 100% thrilled with the La Mer The Glow Highlighter ($105 for 5 g/0.17 oz). It took my breath away the second I spotted in store but with the $105 price tag I didn’t know if I’d have buyers remorse after. After playing with it I still don’t know that I think it’s worth the price but it is beautiful, I love it to bits and I have no regrets buying. It has a sheer smooth shimmery white cream on one side and a peachy pearlescent powder highlighter on the other. I love that it has a separator inside to protect the cream from powder debris. I could probably find something similar from MAC, Anastasia, Tarte etc. but I think the cream and powder formula is so good. The shimmer factor is perfect for me as well, it’s not too frosty and it’s not too sheer. If Tom Ford’s Shade and Illuminate products were the same as this La Mer cream I would 100% love it (for me the TF is too dewy).

I swatched it next to the Tom Ford Skin Illuminator in Moodlight which is probably my favorite. The colors are similar but not the same. Also the Tom Ford has a much higher sharper shimmer finish.

On the face, cream is just on the left photo, on the right I layered the powder on top:

Foundation Armani Luminous Silk 6.5
Powder Hourglass Dim Light
Eyeshadow Tom Ford Nude Dip
Cheeks La Mer Glow Highlighter
Lipstick is Tom Ford Lip Color in Bad Lieutenant
Brush is Wayne Goss #14

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Tom Ford Glow Drops

I already reviewed the Tom Ford Soleil Neige Collection a few days ago but wanted to give you a closer look at the product on the face. The Glow Drops in Reflects Gilt and Glacial Rose are sheer once blended so it’s hard for me to capture the true finish on camera. I applied both over Tom Ford Bronzer in Terra to hopefully give you an idea on the difference in sheen. If you want a natural highlight that isn’t glaring or too sharp these are really beautiful.

Above wearing:

Foundation Armani Luminous Silk 6.5
Powder Hourglass Ambient Lighting Powder in Dim Light
Eyeshadow Tom Ford Cream Powder Duo in Reflection
Bronzer Tom Ford Soleil Glow Bronzer Terra
Left Highlight / Gloss:
- Glow Drops in Reflects Gilt
- Pat McGrath Lip Pencil in Bare Rose
- Gloss Luxe in Wicked
Right Highlight / Gloss:
- Glow Drops in Glacial Rose
- Tom Ford Lip Sculptor in Slash
- Gloss Luxe in Frantic

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Overall thoughts are that I have 5 out of 5 that are winners. I purchased them all myself and I think the Westman Atelier Peau de Peche is the best one out of the colors I tried. I really love the La Mer Glow Highlighter but I don’t think the colors are really unique. I’m still really loving both of the Tom Ford Glow Drops. To date I would say my top 5 highlighters that have been previously released include the Tom Ford Skin Illuminating Duo in Moodlight, Laura Mercier Face Illuminator in Indiscretion, Hourglass Vanish Flash Stick in any color, Fenty Killawatt Highlighter in Afternoon Snack/Mo Honey and MAC Mineralize Finish in Global Glow.

Have you tried any of the highlighter I reviewed today? What did you think? Do you have a favorite you keep reaching for right now? Are there any other holiday highlighters you want me to review? The new Chanel holiday review is coming soon and I’ll be in including that one for sure. Let me know in the comments!

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Highlighters Tom Ford Beauty

Tom Ford Skin Illuminating Duos: Moodlight, Flicker + Incandescent

June 27, 2019

Tom Ford launched two new Skin Illuminating Duos ($85 each for .42 oz/12 g) this year in Flicker and Incandescent. The original one Moodlight is probably one of the prettiest candlelight champagne glow highlighters I’ve ever tried and to this day remains a staple. Flicker is the deeper version and easier to find. Incandescent is a little harder to find right now (it sold out on a number of sites quickly) but you can still find it at Sephora and Bloomingdale’s. The two new colors have the same textured pattern, shimmery finish and powder formula to the original for a multi-dimensional glow.

From top clockwise: Moodlight, Flicker and Incandescent

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Moodlight

For my medium golden skin I find Moodlight is still the best as a skin illuminating duo. It’s the most flattering, isn’t too warm or cool, has the perfect amount of shimmer and glow. It’s smooth, lasts all day, doesn’t emphasize pores and looks good on a wide range of skin tones. I’ve hit pan on this before. I bought a fresh one to shoot for this post.

Swatch comparisons can be found in previous posts here and here.

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Flicker

Flicker has a yellow gold shimmer and deep dark bronze tone with olive undertones. For me this is better for the eyes. On my complexion the colors do not work well on the face, even with soft layering or mixing. The deeper color pulls a little green on my skin and is too deep to wear even as a soft contour. Because it contrasts so sharply with my skin I found the darker color didn’t really apply smoothly with regular highlighting strokes. It required a lot of extra blending to smooth out. On the eyes it applied just fine though.

Swatch comparisons to Maybelline Master Chrome in Molten Gold (one of the best gold highlighters I’ve tried this year), Chanel Duo Bronze Et Lumiere in Medium (review here), Charlotte Tilbury Filmstar Bronze and Glow in Medium-Dark.

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Incandescent

Incandescent did not disappoint and was worth the extra effort to track down. It looks darker in the pan than I anticipated from online stock photos but swatches light and glowy. There’s a champagne shimmer that’s almost identical to the top shade in Moodlight on my skin (they don’t look the same in the pan though). Incandescent’s top shade pulls a little warmer and more golden. If you’re lighter than me in skin tone the difference will be more noticeable. The bottom shade is a frosty rose, similar to NARS Maldives.

Swatch comparisons to Charlotte Tilbury Sex on Fire, NARS Highlighting Powder in Maldives (review here), Tom Ford Contouring Cheek Duo in Softcore (discontinued).

More swatches of the three Skin Illuminating Duos side by side:

Swatches on the face, also wearing:

Foundation – Tom Ford Soleil Glow Foundation in Shade 6
Concealer – Smashbox Studio Skin Concealer in Light Medium Warm
Powder – Charlotte Tilbury Airbrush Powder in Shade 2
Brows – Anastasia Brow Wiz in Medium Brown
Mascara – L’Oreal Lash Paradise Mascara
Eyeliner – L’Oreal Infallible Waterproof Eye Pencil in Brown
Lips – Charlotte Tilbury Collagen Lip Bath in Rosy Glow
Tee – Reformation Alex Slim Tee

Overall I still like Moodlight the best but I think Incandescent is really lovely too. Flicker isn’t a win for me but it’s mainly because the colors don’t work so well for my complexion, it’s a little too deep for me to wear even with blending. The gold is a little too yellow for my liking. For a contour gold/bronze palette I prefer the Natasha Denona Tan Bronze and Glow Palette or the Chanel Duo Bronze Et Lumiere Compact I reviewed earlier – both are easier for me to wear and more flattering for my medium skin tone.

You can find the Tom Ford Skin Illuminating Duos out now at all Tom Ford counters. Online at Nordstrom, Sephora, Bloomingdale’s, Neiman Marcus, Saks Fifth Avenue, Barneys New York and Beautylish.

I’m hoping Incandescent will restock everywhere, I bought mine at Nordstrom but it keeps selling out online, for now it’s available at Sephora and Bloomingdale’s.

Have you tried these yet? What did you think?

16 Comments

Highlighters NARS

NARS Orgasm Collection – Summer 2019 Review + Swatches

May 1, 2019

NARS launched another Orgasm Collection this year with new additions to the line. I have swatches of everything plus a few makeup looks to share today! The collection is available at Sephora and NARS Cosmetics:

Orgasm Blush ($40) in an oversized metallic rose compact
Orgasm Liquid Highlighter ($30) a sheer shimmery illuminator in liquid drops form
Oil-Infused Lip Tint ($26) a color adjusting lip oil that adds a lush pink glow
Endless Orgasm Palette ($49) six satiny creams that have varying degrees of shimmer for an ultra dewy look, can be used on eyes, lips and cheeks

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Orgasm Blush 2019

This year’s Orgasm Blush is similar to last year’s version in the sense that it has a slightly deeper rosy sheen than the regular compact. It also looks a little more glowy on the face but isn’t overly frosty. For me this kind of rose warm gold color is really easy to wear to add warmth and glow to the face. I’ve swatched 3 different powder Orgasm blushes and to me they’re all slightly different in color and shimmer. When viewed at arm’s length they may look pretty much the same. If you can’t do the NARS blush texture (some of you have told me you’re allergic) you might want to check out Charlotte Tilbury Cheek to Chic in Ecstasy which is similar but slightly warmer (also softer in texture and not as shimmery).

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Liquid Highlighter

There’s a new product called the Orgasm Liquid Highlighter. It’s a warm rose gold shimmer in the bottle but on my face applies more neutral – the sparkles show up more making it a little more neutral. The shape of the bottle is similar to the Orgasm Liquid Blush, but the highlighter comes with a dropper and is quite sheer. It has a thin texture that is very fluid. One drop applied with fingers will give you a very pretty shimmery soft glow. I really love this on the face for that barely there glow. Some of you will find it too sheer in which case I’d recommend you try a few other colors I’ve swatched below including the NARS Highlighting Powder, CoverFX Custom Drops or Hourglass Vanish Flash Highlighter. Colors aren’t quite the same but I found the closest ones I could.

Extra glow with the Liquid Highlighter and Orgasm 2019 blush layered together. For a more wearable look with less intense glow all you need to do is take a clean powder brush and buff/blend out the color. Also wearing the:

Armani Luminous Silk Foundation in 6.5
Charlotte Tilbury Airbrush Powder in 2
Anastasia Brow Wiz in Caramel
Endless Orgasm Palette on eyes
Urban Decay 24/7 Eyeliner in Zero
Orgasm Oil-Infused Lip Tint
Top from J.Crew (actually a beach coverup)

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Oil-Infused Lip Tint

My favorite item in the collection is the Orgasm Oil-Infused Lip Tint. This applies clear on the lips but adjusts to a really pretty pink within 2-3 minutes. I have it shown on the arm after a few minutes and also applied on the lips. There’s no scent or taste. It has a very slight gold shimmer but isn’t frosty. It transforms into such a pretty flushed pink on my lips. I love that it is super hydrating without feeling like it’s going to slide off the lips.

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Endless Orgasm Palette

Finally I have a look at the Endless Orgasm Palette. There are six cream shimmers that are sheer and emollient giving a very dewy finish. To the touch these creams feel very slippery. I have such mixed feelings about this palette. It looks so so pretty on the skin if you apply it with the right touch. I tested it on both the face and eyes alone and then layered with powder products. Alone it feels so emollient I don’t think it would last on my skin more than an hour without getting super dewy and sweaty looking. The products give a wet skin effect with how creamy they are. As soon as I swatched it I knew I would have to add powder to set and tone down the glow. I can improve the look when layered with any kind of powder blush or eyeshadow. The powder helps set the product and makes it grab onto the skin better. Indoors the product with powder layering lasted for a good 4-5 hours without budging but this makes it higher maintenance than I prefer.

I think it’s workable and beautiful as a soft dewy finishing highlight for either the eyes or cheeks. But it’s going to be either a strong hit or very strong miss for most of you. If you’re one who adores dewy products like the RMS Living Luminizer or the Chanel Baume Essentiel Stick I think you’ll really enjoy this palette. As much as I love the colors I don’t think it will be an easy one to wear outdoors for me especially in the Florida heat.

Colors include a shimmering pearl, shimmery rose mauve, shimmery pink, frosted pale pink, frosted copper and rosy gold shimmer.

Wearing the entire 2019 collection on the face, eyes and cheeks. Same breakdown for base, liner etc. as listed in the above makeup look photo.

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Overall really pretty, but formulas aren’t going to be for everyone. The liquid highlighter and palette will especially tricky for those with oily skin. The liquid highlighter has a nice dry down but it does have a glowy finish which I think will emphasize oily skin’s glow. The palette is so creamy and if you can’t do that extra dewy look this will be too glowy for you.

I really like this year’s Orgasm Blush although if you have previous launches it’s not a must-have. The Lip Oil is my favorite item in the whole collection. It gives a more flushed look compared to the Afterglow Balm for me (which I still love).

You can find the NARS Orgasm 2019 collection out now. Available at Sephora and NARS Cosmetics. Quick note I took a look online and a lot of items are sold out on Sephora’s website but if I click the store locator option and type in my zip code there’s still a lot of stock in stores near me. I’m hoping they restock online soon for those who don’t have a store near them!

Have you checked this collection out yet? What did you think? By popular request I will be reviewing the Charlotte Tilbury collection to test and compare. I’m ordering the products as soon as they hit the Sephora website!

NARS collection provided for review.

25 Comments

Highlighters Natasha Denona

Natasha Denona Bloom Blush and Glow Palette Review

March 7, 2019

Natasha Denona launched a new glow palette called Bloom Blush and Glow ($55 for 13.7 g/0.48 oz, available at Sephora and Beautylish). I ordered this a few weeks ago and think it’s one of the prettiest cheek palettes I’ve seen. It comes in a medium sized compact with four cheek colors. I love the smaller compact size and find the pans are still large enough that I can dip a regular blush brush in the compact easily. (On the nails is Chanel Le Vernis in Jaspe.)

There are two creams and two powders:

Glow Cream Base is a sheer peachy champagne shimmer, this is a nice glow product, not too sparkly or frosty
Cream Blush is a super pigmented cranberry flush, a little goes a long way but it’s easy to blend
Glow Extreme is a extreme glow shimmery peachy champagne highlighter, it has large shimmer particles and is very glowy
Duo Glow is a duo chrome peach gold shimmer powder highlighter

All four layer nicely together for the ultimate glow. If you’re conservative on the shimmer you may find Glow Extreme too glowy and sparkly for you. I think it makes for a really nice eyeshadow too. Application is smooth and easy to blend. Pigment is perfect. You can sheer out for a lighter wash or layer for more intense coverage. Lasting power is very good although we’ve had a cold week so I haven’t tested this in full humidity.

Close ups and swatches below.

There’s a nice plastic lid inside to cover the two creams and protect them from the powder kick up of the other two shades. I really appreciate little details like this!

Swatches:

Makeup look wearing all four shades. The top left photo is just the glow cream blush base, other three have the other cheek colors layered on top (press samples have a *):

Foundation – Natasha Denona Transformatte Foundation 30W * (review here)
Concealer – Armani Power Fabric Stretchable Concealer in 6.5 (review soon)
Powder – MAC Mineralize Skinfinish Natural in Medium Plus
Eyeshadow – Natasha Denona Mini Star Eyeshadow Palette * (review here)
Mascara – L’Oreal Lash Paradise Waterproof
Brows – Hourglass Arch Brow in Soft Brunette * (review here)
Cheeks – Natasha Denona Bloom Blush and Glow Palette
Lips – Pat McGrath LUST Gloss in Belladonna* (swatches here)
Top – Anthropologie
Nails – Chanel Le Vernis Jaspe * (review coming soon)

Overall glowy and beautiful. Compared to other Natasha Denona coral/peachy shades her Duo Glow in Alba is lighter and more golden compared to this palette’s blush. Her Diamond and Blush Palette in Darya is more coral/cool toned while this palette has more warmer tones and more glow/shimmer. I do think The Bloom Blush and Glow is different enough to justify owning if you have the others, although if you’re super conservative on shimmers and glows this will probably be too glowy for you.

You can find the Natasha Denona Bloom Blush and Glow Palette out now. Available at Sephora and Beautylish.

I bought mine and then also received a press sample so I’m going to give away my extra to one reader. To enter for a chance to win, use the widget below. Open internationally but you must be 18 years or older to qualify. Giveaway is going to run through Monday March 11 at 11:59 PM EST. ONE winner will be selected within 72 hours of giveaway end and contacted by me via e-mail. Not sponsored or affiliated. Note the first two options are mandatory. Other entry options will get you extra entries.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

104 Comments

Becca Highlighters

Becca BFFs Collection Review + Swatches

January 29, 2019

Becca just launched a cute BFFs Collection called Made With Love by Khloe and Malika. This collection was created in collaboration with Khloe Kardashian and her BFF Malika Haqq. There are new highlighting palettes, a new lipstick formula and mini X and O shaped highlighter. I think the concept is super cute with two sets of color options. I’m a huge fan of Becca Shimmering Skin Perfectors and their Be a Light Palettes. I had high hopes for this launch. In the collection we have:

Glow Letters Highlighter ($18)
Made with Love by Khloe Collection
- Khloe Bronze, Blush and Glow Palette ($44)
- Khloe Ultimate Lipstick Love ($24 each) in Cupid’s Kiss and Hot Tamale
Made with Love by Malika
- Malika Bronze, Blush and Glow Palette ($44)
- Malika Ultimate Lipstick Love ($24 each) in Yours Truly and Brave

Glow Letters

Up first is a look at the Glow Letters Highlighter. This is a shimmery bronze and champagne mix of X and O shaped pressed highlighter shapes. I love the color and finish – it gives a beautiful glow without being overly frosty. The golden color is SO so pretty. I just hate the cardboard box packaging and presentation. I think this would have been better if it had been a pressed powder like their Shimmering Skin Perfectors. I give the product itself a solid A+ rating so I can overlook the box it comes in. I think I am just being really picky with this one.

Swatches also next to the two palettes side by side.

Made with Love by Khloe Collection

The Made by Khloe Collection has one Bronze, Blush and Glow Palette and two Ultimate Lipstick Love lipsticks in Cupid’s Kiss and Hot Tamale. The palette is generously sized in a large mirrored compact.

The colors are really pretty but I had a hard time getting into the palette. Becca launched a Bronze, Blush and Glow Palette with highlighting palette similar in concept to the Be a Light finish and shape. The Khloe Palette has:

Soft Focus Highlighter in Glow Up which is a shimmery champagne vanilla
Radiant Blush in Fierce a shimmery pale peach
Radiant Blush in Fabulosity which is a more coral peach shimmer
Satin Matte Bronzer in Koko Bronze which is a very soft sheer tan matte bronzer

The palette to me feels like three highlighters + one bronzer. On my skin tone I felt the colors looked too frosty when I wore 3 or all 4 of the colors layered. If I blended a lot or used with a super light hand I could wear this. It’s not a bad palette. I think the quality is excellent. Finish of the powders is smooth and super pigmented. I just couldn’t wear them all together easily like I could the Becca x Chrissy Palette which I still really love.

There are two lipsticks are new formulas which are ultra pigmented creams. They’re scented with a sweet almost coconut like scent and vanilla cream. At first swipe I felt they were super thick. The formula is smooth and long lasting though. As long as you don’t swipe on too much it’s not too thick. Cupid’s Kiss is toasted almond nude, Hot Tamale is a hot bright red.

Above wearing:

Fenty Beauty Pro Filt’r Foundation in 230 + 235 mixed
Laura Mercier Translucent Loose Powder to set
Urban Decay Naked2 Palette on the eyes
Anastasia Brow Wiz in Caramel
L’Oreal Lash Paradise Waterproof Mascara
Made with Love by Khloe Bronze, Blush and Glow Palette all four shades
Left is Ultimate Lipstick Love in Cupid’s Kiss
Right has Ultimate Lipstick Love in Hot Tamale
Off the Shoulder Top is from Abercrombie

Made with Love by Malika

For the Made with Love By Malika colors you have the same products with a variation in colors. She has her Made with Love by Malika Bronze, Blush and Glow Palette and two Ultimate Lipstick Love lip colors in Yours Truly and Brave. I prefer the Malika product color scheme.

The Made with Love by Malika Bronze Blush and Glow Palette has the same products, I find the palette to be equally glowy but the deeper colors make it easier for me to pull off. Pigment is ultra rich and smooth and easy to blend/layer. Colors include:

Soft Focus Highlighter in Dusted is a peachy pink champagne
Radiant Blush in Yes Girl! is a warm bright coral shimmer
Radiant Blush in Make Me Blush is a shimmering pink rose
Satin Matte Bronzer in Bestie Bronze is a medium deep warm bronze satin matte

True to Becca’s style this palette is still very glowy. Finish is lightweight in feeling so it’s not heavy but it’s still very pigmented. Lipsticks have a similar vibe to Khloe’s while the Malika colors have a different undertone. Yours Truly is a warmer peachy nude. Brave is a classic true red that is neutral-cool.

Same beauty breakdown as above but with the Malika collection colors. Left is Yours Truly for the lips. Right is Brave for the lips. For skin tone reference I’m in between a MAC NC30 and NC35 right now.

Overall thoughts is that this is a beautiful collection and all the items are well made with great color payoff, lasting power, pigment and textures. I think the palettes are well priced and true to Becca’s classic signature glow style. I still love highlighters and will probably look forward to any new ones but at this point I’m finding it challenging to get SUPER excited about them. I have too many, there have been too many launches, most of it has started to look all the same. The only thing I didn’t like was the Glow Letters packaging.

The Khloe palette was a little too glowy for my skin tone right now. To clarify, it’s too glowy to wear ALL the colors in one look. If I mix in a matte blush or just use the bronzer with one other shade it’s very wearable and pretty. I find it interesting that the Malika palette has the same glow finish but with the deeper colors I find them a lot more wearable.

Lipsticks are ok. I think they’re nice but a little thick. I understand they’re super opaque with rich color payoff so it makes sense they’re really creamy. I’m going to check my Sephora to see if there are other colors out yet in store and will let you know if I pick any more up. Price seem a little steep to me, but the product is also nicely sized and has super intense pigment.

You can find the Becca BFFs collection out now. Available at Nordstrom, Sephora, Ulta Beauty and Becca Cosmetics.

Becca BFF collection provided by Becca for review.

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Eye Makeup Highlighters Urban Decay

Urban Decay Naked Cherry Collection Review + Swatches

October 18, 2018

I have an Urban Decay Naked Cherry Collection review + swatches for you today! This is a collection I did not expect to work for me based on the color scheme. I rarely wear reds or pinks on the eyes (Naked Heat was too warm for me) so I was pleasantly surprised to find the colors are actually easy to wear for my neutral-makeup loving self. I’ve been the biggest fan of the original Naked, Naked 2 and Naked 3 eyeshadow palettes. Anytime anyone asks what palette I’d recommend to start out their makeup collection it’s one of those (sad that the original one was discontinued though!). In the Naked Cherry launch we have:

Naked Cherry Eyeshadow Palette ($49, palette made in USA, brush made in China)
Naked Cherry Highlight and Blush Palette ($34, made in USA)
Naked Cherry All Nighter Scented Makeup Setting Spray ($15 for 30 ml/1 fl oz, made in USA)
Naked Cherry 24/7 Glide-On Eye Pencil in Love Drug and Black Market ($21 each, made in USA, although my other eyeliners in this formula say made in Germany)
Vice Lipsticks in Juicy, Devilish and Cherry ($18 each, made in USA)

The star in the collection is the Naked Cherry Eyeshadow Palette. Urban Decay makes some of the best eyeshadow formulas for their mattes and shimmers. They’re buttery smooth, have excellent pigment, are easy to build and layer. They also stay put, even the glitters. Naked Cherry pulls more pink and plum with cranberry tones rather than cherry colors to my eye, but I’m all for that because a true cherry red would probably not work on my complexion.

Colors include:

Hot Spot perfect matte pale pink cream
Caution sheer cool beige matte
Bang Bang shimmery warm soft pink
Feelz matte mauve
Juicy matte warm pink
Turn On shimmering light mauve grey champagne
Ambitious shimmery warm bronze with plum tones
Bing matte violet mauve
Devilish matte warmish purple
Young Love shimmery plum cherry color
Drunk Dial deep shimmer plum
Privacy matte plum brown with red tones

Below wearing the Naked Cherry Eyeshadow shades in Bang Bang, Feelz, Ambitious and Drunk Dial, Urban Decay Vice Lipstick in Devilish, Naked Cherry Highlight and Blush Trio. Also wearing Charlotte Tilbury Magic Foundation in 6 + 7, mixed, Charlotte Tilbury Flawless Powder #2, Hourglass Arch Brow Pencil in Dark Brunette, Too Faced Better than Sex Mascara.

A lot of you have asked whether I prefer the Naked Cherry palette or the Charlotte Tilbury Stars in Your Eyes. It’s a tough call because while there are similar tones, I find them very different. The Charlotte Tilbury has more shimmer and glow with lighter warmer gold tones. It has more of a glam feel because of the shimmers. The Naked Cherry has a more monochrome feel with pink, plum and cherry colors. It also has more variety in the deeper colors for plum/pinks. Right now if I had to pick one it would be the Charlotte Tilbury one simply because I like the gold and champagne colors. I do think the Urban Decay one is more unique compared to what I already own.

By request, swatching them side by side (review + swatches of the Charlotte Tilbury one here)

Naked Cherry 24/7 Glide-On Eye Pencil in Love Drug and Black Market are smooth eyeliners. The 24/7 Glide-On is among the smoothest pencils I’ve tried and they never tug or dry out. They haven’t always been smudge proof on me and don’t last 24/7 like a liquid liner but they do stay put without sliding around for several hours on my eyes. I usually top/set with a deep powder shadow as a liner to help it stay longer. Your mileage may vary depending on how oily your lids are.

Love Drug is a shimmery plum, Black Market is a satiny black with a sheen. I’ve swatched a few other pencils I still have next to the new ones:

The Naked Cherry Highlight and Blush Palette was very different from what I expected. Colors swatch with medium pigment on the arms, but on the face it is sheer. Also there’s almost a secret shimmer in one of the colors you can’t see in the pan. Once swatched the colors are a soft champagne with a hint of pink, sheer light cherry pink (goes on a lot more natural than I anticipated) and a duo chrome pink flash shimmer. The good news is that this is a palette I think is impossible to overdo. It applies smoothly, doesn’t emphasize pores or fine lines, colors blend naturally on the skin. But if you need pigment and color this might be too natural for you.

Vice Lipsticks in Juicy, Devilish and Cherry are new to the launch with special-edition cherry packaging. They’re not scented (thank goodness, because I don’t like cherry smells). I’ve tried a few Vice Lipsticks before and find the formula hit or miss depending on color. Some were really dry and patchy on my lips, but others are smooth, creamy and comfortable. All three in the Naked Cherry line are excellent. Juicy is a unique sheer shimmery iridescent peach with copper and bronze micro shimmers. It’s sparkly but not gritty on my lips. Devilish is a bright berry pink with micro shimmers. Cherry is the perfect deep cherry cream. Coverage is sheer-medium for the shimmers, full for the cream. Application is smooth and there’s a slight sheen to the finish. Lasting power is very good. They’re creamy and semi-thick so they adhere to the lips but they don’t feel heavy.

Naked Cherry All Nighter Scented Makeup Setting Spray is something I was so reluctant to try simply because I don’t like cherries. I did try it though and it’s actually a lot more pleasant than I expected. It smells like a sheer sweet cherry, almost like a toned down candy cherry. It performs just as well as the regular All Nighter Spray to set makeup and keep it in place for hours. I still don’t know how I feel about scented face sprays that smell like fruit. I’m all about ones that smell like rose or lavender, but the only one I truly love that is food scented is the MAC Fix+ in Coconut because I love anything coconut.

Natural look wearing Juicy Lipstick, the lighter shades of the Eyeshadow Palette and the Highlight Blush Cheek Palette. Same base + brows as what’s listed in the photo above.

Overall a really cute collection! I think the eyeliners are definitely dupeable, so if you have black or plum in your stash you can probably recreate the look with something similar. Love Drug does pull a little more cherry in color and Black Market is more of a muted black rather than a classic deep version. I feel like the Highlight and Cheek Palette is going to be hit or miss for many of you. If you’re lighter than me it will show up. I’m right at the skin tone where it gives a barely there glow. If you’re darker I suspect it will be too sheer/light for your complexion. The eyeshadow palette was an unexpected YES for me. I’m still a peach/gold/bronze kind of gal for eyeshadows but it’s nice to branch out here and there with colors you normally wouldn’t wear. Considering I rarely wear reds or pinks I find myself being braver with color and love trying new combinations.

You can find the Naked Cherry Collection out now. I’m really surprised to find that several items have sold out here and there. You may have to do a little shopping around to find all the colors you want.

Available at Sephora, Ulta Beauty, Nordstrom and Urban Decay.

Have you tried these yet? What did you think? If you wear warm or pinks or reds what’s your favorite palette of the moment?

Naked Cherry collection provided for review.

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Highlighters Hourglass Cosmetics

Hourglass Ambient Lighting Edit Palette Unlocked Edition

October 1, 2018

Hourglass launched a new palette called the Ambient Lighting Edit Unlocked Palette ($80 for 0.04 oz/1.4 g x6, made in Italy) for holiday 2018. I ordered this from Sephora and as with most of their 6-pan palettes it’s limited-edition but this year’s version has all new shades! This is the first of a few items the brand is launching for holiday. More teasers on their Instagram @hourglasscosmetics for another palette launching in a couple of days.

The Unlocked Ambient Lighting Palette has two finishing powders, one bronzer, two blushes and a metallic strobe powder. Quality is excellent with a medium coverage finish that’s very natural. The overall look and feel of the colors ended up being darker than I anticipated. On my skin they apply a little deeper than what I see in the palette but it worked well. The colors also applied with a more diffused glow rather than the high shimmer sheen. Since these are luminous with light reflective particles, the palette is going to look different depending on how the natural light catches it. Lasting power is excellent as well. They stay put on the skin without emphasizing pores or fine lines.

A closer look at the palette in a few different lighting options, swatches and all the shades applied on the face below.

First color descriptions of the shades you get in this year’s holiday palette:

Soft Light is a sheer light ivory beige finishing powder with a subtle sheen
Filtered Light is a tan beige finishing powder, almost a soft contour for me
Golden Bronze Light is a warm golden bronze shimmer
Nude Glow is a shimmery nude peach
Mood Flush is a satiny rose pink, looks cooler-toned in the pan, but on my skin applied more neutral-warm
Champagne Strobe Light is a high shimmer champagne

Close up of the palette indoors natural light:

Versus with a flash:

On the face it gives a very natural glow. There’s no harsh frost or glare even with a flash, also wearing:

Foundation – Armani Luminous Silk Foundation in 6.5 (just decided to re-try this and it works really well)
Powder to set – Hourglass Ambient Unlocked in Soft Light + Filtered Light mixed
Eyeshadow – Hourglass Scattered Light Shadow in Aura
Eyeliner – Chanel Stylo Yeux Waterproof in Ebene
Brows – Chanel La Palette Sourcils de Chanel in Brun 50
Mascara – Chanel Le Volume de Revolution (review soon)
Blush – Hourglass Ambient Unlocked in Mood Flush + Nude Glow mixed
Highlight – Hourglass Ambient Unlocked Champagne Strobe Light
Lipgloss – Pat McGrath LUST Gloss Flesh Astral *

Size comparison of the different Hourglass compacts.

A lot of you have asked what brushes I recommend using with this palette. The pans are on the small side so there’s a high chance you’re going to be mixing colors with your brush. A few smaller ones I use and recommend shown below.

Top to bottom:

MAC 168 SH (mine is an older short discontinued version, full size here brush head is the same size)
Charlotte Tilbury Powder and Sculpt brush
Laura Mercier Cheek Color Brush *
Wayne Goss Brush 10 *
Wayne Goss Air Brush * (one shown is limited-edition color, but he carries it in the regular shade)
Wayne Goss Brush 14 * (brush set reviewed here)

Overall well made with beautiful colors. I think the quality is excellent. It has a very natural look to it but the colors are buildable if you layer. Given all the highlighters that are out there on the market at this point many launches are looking the same to me. These colors are new to Hourglass and I think a couple are unique while others are not. I would love to see them expand their Ambient Lighting finishing powder range to include full sizes of Soft Light and Filtered Light and perhaps shades in between and darker. I love the satiny almost matte powders and right now there’s not a color that works to match my skin although I used to use Dim Light as a setting powder when I was lighter in skin tone.

I do love the look and vibe of Nude Glow Blush because I love a good peachy shimmer. Mood Flush is nice but for some reason doesn’t quite apply the same in the pan on my face (it goes on warmer). I’m the equivalent of MAC NC35 and I think if I were up to 3 shades darker in skintone this would still show up on me, but the overall look is still very medium-natural.

I think it’s a good buy. I’m really happy with it and love that it has new colors. I’m also ok with having similar options because these palettes are so convenient for travel or to create a look with a single compact. I don’t know that I’d call it entirely unique and I’m also ok with that. At this point given all the highlighters I own and have tested I don’t know that I’d call it a must-have, but I do really like it. It’s pricey but well made.

You can find the Hourglass Unlocked Ambient Lighting Edit Palette out now at Sephora and Hourglass. It’s limited-edition for Holiday 2018.

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