Lips Archives - The Beauty Look Book

NARS Explicit Lipstick Review

September 6, 2024

NARS revamped their lipsticks with a new formula and refillable packaging style called the Explicit Lipstick ($40, $24 for the refills). These are satin finish with a lightweight formula that offers medium-full coverage and rich color payoff. The NARS team sent a selection of the bold shades to try and as a neutral-lip lover I ordered nudes. Available now at Nordstrom, Ulta Beauty, Sephora, NARS and all NARS retailers.

These new lipsticks are a solid win. Classic in formula. Unscented. Hydrating and lightweight. Even after swatching 10+ shades my lips are still fully intact with no dryness or peeling. I do think the formula being on the lighter side almost makes them feel a bit thin but they have impressive smooth coverage. They’re hydrating and comfortable on the lips. I do wish they were just the slightest bit creamier or thicker but I do really like that the texture isn’t too soft or melty. They seem very sturdy.

Many of the lighter neutrals and medium brown tones look extremely similar but there are noticeable variances in undertone. I was thrilled to find that I could actually wear every single shade. Even the lighter ones (yay!!!).

I split the swatches into two categories: the neutrals and the bolds. For skintone reference I wear the NARS Light Reflecting Foundation in Vanuatu (review here). In this post, I’m also wearing the Total Seduction Eyeshadow Sticks in Strip Down and Mambo along with the Patrick Ta Major Dimension III on the eyes and Deep Throat Blush on the Cheeks.

Here are the Neutral shades I tried:

Adulterous is a nude blush pink
Blame is a peach pink nude
Envy is a beige
Indecent is a neutral-warm beige tan
Liason is a peachy nude
Exposed is a cool beige
Dirty Talk is a warm coral pink

Bold Shades:

Unashamed is a cool mauve
Devious is a cool rose pink
On Top is a chestnut reddish brown
Excess is a reddish brown
Body Heat is a tan brown
Rendezvous is brown rose red
Desirous is a classic red

Overall a solid A. I don’t know that I would call these the best lipstick formula ever, but they are exceptionally good and I think every color I tried is wearable. I would say my top 5 are: Blame, Liason, Adulterous, On Top, Devious.

I also added swatches of the Total Seduction Eyeshadow Sticks ($32) to this post. These launched over the summer and I love the colors but am still not sold on matte creams. In general I don’t like cream matte shadows because they tend to look dry on my lids, especially when they dry down. These are creamy matte eyeshadow sticks with impressive pigment and once they set they do not budge. Since they set quickly you have to work very fast to blend and on my lids they aren’t forgiving. These are wearable and easy to blend for a matte, but I still prefer a powder shadow format for mattes. I think you can get a similar effect with the Patrick Ta Major Dimension III Palette (swatched here).

Overall love the new lip launch for a classic effortless kind of lipstick. The matte cream shadows sticks are very good, but for a cream I prefer some shimmer or for a matte I still prefer powders.

Available now at Nordstrom, Ulta Beauty, Sephora, NARS and all NARS retailers.

Have you tried these yet? What did you think?

Press samples provided for review.

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Fenty Beauty Lips

Fenty Gloss Bomb Stix + Trace’d Out Pencil Lip Liner

August 14, 2024

There are new lip launches from Fenty for summer with a new Gloss Bomb Stix ($25) and Trace’d Out Pencil Lip Liner ($20). Available now at Sephora, Ulta, Fenty). It’s all pure love for me.

Gloss Bomb Stix

The Gloss Bomb Stix is a high shine high pigment gloss in stick form. They are on the softer side similar to the YSL Candy Glaze or Candy Glow, but not as soft as say the Makeup By Mario MoistureGlow Plumping Lip Serums or Hourglass Phantom Glossy Balms.

These Gloss Bomb Stix are scented just like the Gloss Bomb Universal Lip Luminizer. They are one swipe wonders. Texture feels a little thick almost like a gloss so they’re definitely not weightless. They almost have a creamy balm feel.

I picked up the neutrals and love all of them except the lightest shade. I’ve found that most pale nude pink beige shades look very pasty on my lips, while warmer beige nudes seem to work better.

Lip swatches below wearing:

Foundation – Fenty Eaze Drop Blurring Skin Tint Shade 9
Powder – Rare Beauty True to Myself Tinted Powder in Ivory
Blush – Rhode Pocket Blush in Teddy
Eyeshadows – Makeup by Mario Master Mattes + Pat McGrath Mothership IX
Brows – Chanel Microfine Defining Brow Pencil Blonde Tendre
Hair – Babyliss Pro Nano Titanium 1 1/4″ Extended Barrel Curling Iron + this hair oil
Nails – Olive and June Quick Dry in Poodle

Blaz’d Donut is a creamy pale pink beige

Two’Lips Kiss is a perfect peachy nude beige

Fenty Glow is another perfect rose tan beige

Is it Fu$$y is a mauve pink

Sp’ice Cold is a perfect brown

High’Biscus is a bright pink rose

Riri is a mauve plum

I think this formula is the best lip launch of the year so far. We finally have a new glossy lip formula with amazing pigment and color payoff!

Trace’d Out Pencil Lip Liner

The Fenty Trace’d Out Pencil Lip Liners do not disappoint. Formula is very long-wearing. Once they are on my lips they do not budge. I love that they glide on easily with minimal tugging. Pigment is full coverage and smooth. My most-worn lip pencils are from Huda or Charlotte Tilbury these days so I swatched what I thought might be similar. I think the pigment and finish is similar to the Huda Beauty ones with the Fenty being just a little bit more thicker in feel.

I didn’t lip swatch the liners here but you can see Satin Panty in action here for a pretty lip combo. Overall solid A+ for formula, color and pigment.

You can find these now at Sephora, Ulta, Fenty.

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Bronzer + Blush Lips

Brights by Mario – Makeup by Mario Summer Collection

July 23, 2024

Makeup By Mario launched his Brights By Mario Collection for summer with new shades of his MoistureGlow Plumping Lip Serum ($24 each) and Soft Pop Plumping Blush Veil ($30 each). The colors are fun and bright – perfect for this summer. You can find these at Sephora.

Soft Pop Plumping Blush Veil

There are four new shades of the Soft Pop Plumping Blush Veil in bright bold colors. The formula is creamy and easy to blend. They blend out to a much sheerer finish for a veil of color compared to what you see in the pan. Since these are significantly brighter and bolder in color they show up much better on my medium tan skin compared to the other shades in this formula. The colors in the original launch (reviewed here) didn’t work so well for my skin tone (they were too pale for me).

They have a soft dewy finish but it’s not too dewy or shiny. Since they are creams I think they’re best suited for normal or normal to dry skin types. On me lasting power is very good indoors but outdoors they become very dewy looking within a short period of time. To be fair though everything gets dewy looking in this humidity!

Pink Peony is a cool toned powdery pink, this has a very pastel undertone so looks a little streaky on me if I don’t blend it out all the way. For skintone reference I’m wearing NARS Light Reflecting Foundation in Vanuatu below (formula reviewed here).

Below: Pink Peony + Watermelon Glow on the lips

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Papaya Pop is a bright orange but sheers out to a tangerine glow on the cheeks.

Below: Papaya Pop + Tangerine Glow on the lips

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Strawberry Sunset is a bright warm pink.

Below: Strawberry Sunset + Cherry Glow on the lips.

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Paradise Pink is a fuschia pink.

Below: Paradise Pink + Pomegranate Glow on the lips.

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Swatched below next to the blush shades I still have from the original launch.

MoistureGlow Plumping Lip Serum

There are five new shades of the MoistureGlow Plumping Lip Serum and I love these colors. Texture is the same as the other lip serums in the lineup: very soft, balmy, glossy, sheer in finish. They are bright and sheer at the same time so you’ll get a healthy wash of color on the lips. You can sheer them out for a more subtle look.

I think every single color is beautiful and perfect for summer. I do wish they were in a squeeze tube format instead. The texture is really soft and almost melty on the lips. I haven’t had any product melting issues but I also haven’t put these in my bag this summer. Also quick note in case you’re new to these: they twist in one direction (they don’t twist back down).

You can find these now at Sephora.

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Press samples sent by the Makeup By Mario team for review.

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Bronzer + Blush Lips

rhode Pocket Blush + Peptide Lip Tint New Shades

July 15, 2024

Rhode launched new lip and cheek colors for summer with the Pocket Blush ($24 each) and Peptide Lip Tint ($18 each). They’re available now at Rhode Skin with discounted bundles if you buy one of their sets. The shades looked perfect for summer so I ordered one of everything in the sets. I have swatches today!

Pocket Blush

The Pocket Blush is a creamy blush with a twist up base. There are six shades total and I bought the Pocket Blush Set. Pigment is bold with one swipe but when you blend it’s medium in coverage. They’re dewy in the finish if you apply on bare skin or just on top of foundation or a skin tint. If I apply on top of a powdered face the finish is less dewy and more satiny which I prefer. In terms of a cream blush these are some of the better ones I’ve tried for lasting power. Creams are challenging in humid weather but these have held up pretty well if I’m out for a couple hours. Right now the humidity levels are so high literally nothing will hold up some days.

I really love the look of these. I do get better wear and coverage with the Armani Luminous Cheek Tints but those are different in application and formula.

Freckle is a nude beige
Piggy is a pale pastel pink
Sleepy Girl is a mauve
Juice Box is a bright pink
Spicy Marg is a coral peach
Toasted Teddy is a brown

After trying all the colors I think Spicy Marg and Juice Box are my favorite. Piggy is a bit too pale for my skin tone right now but I can make it work if I layer something else on top. Since Toasted Teddy is deeper and more contrasted with my skin tone I need to blend it out a little more than the other shades, but blending is pretty easy. Overall a solid A.

Peptide Lip Tint New Shades

There are four new shades of the Peptide Lip Tints. Set linked here. I love these lip balms and have purchased every single shade. Some of ones from previous launches seem to have developed some crystalized chunks, but not all of them have. I am hoping these new ones won’t develope the gritty texture.

New shades this launch pull on the sheer side, I wish they had more pigment but the colors are really pretty. As a lip balm lover, I like these. I don’t know that I’d call them must-haves, but the colors are stunning. New colors include:

Shortcake a cool pink
Peach Pit a sheer peach
Salty Tan a sheer mauve
Guava Spritz is a coral pink

Looks below, also wearing:

Foundation – Armani Luminous Silk Foundation in 6.5
Powder – Givenchy Prisme Libre Loose Powder Shade 3
Eyeshadow – Too Faced Born This Way Mini Warm Ember Nudes
Mascara – Tarte Tartelette Tubing Mascara XL

Freckle Blush + Peach Pit Peptide Lip Tint

Juice Box Blush + Short Cake Peptide Lip Tint

Piggy Blush + Ribbon Peptide Lip Tint

Sleepy Girl Blush + Salty Tan Peptide Lip Tint

Spicy Marg Blush + Guava Spritz Peptide Lip Tint

Toasted Teddy Blush + Espresso Peptide Lip Tint

Summer Lip Case

Rhode launched a super cute iPhone case (available in different sizes) in colors to match the new summer lip glosses. They are super cute and I love the concept. In real life I found mine a bit too chunky feeling and a little awkward to hold. I kept mine on for about an hour and then took it off but I’m the type that has a very streamlined basic phone case so I can slip it in and out of my pocket or put it in mini bags. I think they’re fun, but for me not practical.

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You can find these available at Rhode Skin.

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Lips Pat McGrath Labs

Pat McGrath Dramatique Mega Lip Pencil

July 2, 2024

Pat McGrath launched a new lip pencil called the Dramatique Mega Lip Pencil ($29 each). These are in a large pencil format that require sharpening. They’re available at Ulta Beauty, Sephora and Pat McGrath Labs.

I really love these. Colors for every single shade I tried is absolutely stunning. Formula is creamy and easy to apply with a matte finish. They glide onto the lips without any tugging and the coverage is smooth and opaque. Once they set on the lips they have impressive lasting power and these are among the few lip products that don’t transfer to my teeth at all. They’re not 100% transfer-proof but the transfer to a cup or napkin is minimal once it sets on the lips. I also like that they feel relatively weightless on the lips which is a huge plus especially in hot summer months.

I do wish they were in a twist up formula or came with a sharpener, but for a matte lip formula I really do like these. They can look a little dry if you have dry lips, but this can be fixed with a lip balm or primer. If you haven’t tried the MAC Prep + Prime Lip Primer I think you need to. It is the best lip primer that helps smooth the lip surface, adds a light veil of moisture and really helps lipsticks go on smoother without feathering.

Shades are all on point – I think I can see myself wearing every single color (except the red though, since I rarely wear reds). Some of the neutrals look similar swatched on the arm but on my lips there’s a clear difference in undertone. The darker shades will stain the lips but the lip primer is really good in preventing the staining.

Nude Venus is a light cool nude pink
Coralust is a neutral peachy pink
Divine Rose is a warm mauve rose
Naked Seduction is a warm dusty rose
Nude Oasis is a warm brown rose
Flesh3 is a mahogany rose brown
Garnet Glow is a deeper wine shade
Belle Amour is a cool-toned berry with some fuchsia vibes (this color looks like it’s only available at Pat McGrath online, I like the Lip Fetish Balm color version of Belle Amour a lot more)
OBSESSED! is an electric bold orange red

I lip swatched most of the shades below, also wearing:

Foundation – Pat McGrath Skin Fetish Foundation Light Medium 14 (review here)
Concealer – Pat McGrath Skin Fetish Concealer Light Medium 13 (swatches here)
Blush – Divine Cream Blush Alluring Nude (review here) + Powder Blush Nude Venus
Eyeshadow – Divine Bronze Eyeshadow Palette Venusian Sunrise (review here)
Brows – Anastasia Brow Definer Medium Brown
Polish – Olive and June Quick Dry in Pointe

Overall love. I’m usually not a fan of matte lips but I like the colors and lasting power of these shades. I would say my top 3 are Coralust, Nude Seduction and Divine Rose.

Available at Ulta Beauty, Sephora and Pat McGrath Labs..

6 shades received in PR and 3 purchased by me

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Lips YSL Beauty

YSL Candy Glow Tinted Butter Balm

May 28, 2024

YSL Beauty launched another tinted balm called the Candy Glow Tinted Butter Balm $40 and out of the three balm formulas they have out now this one is my favorite for pigment and formula.

There are 6 shades right now. I ordered all of them from Sephora they sold out almost instantly but finally restocked. You can also find these at Nordstrom, Neiman Marcus, Selfridges.

3B Rosewood Blush below

The Candy Glow Tinted Butter Balm is a soft buttery balm in a twist up format. Candy Glow is more pigmented and more buttery feeling than the Loveshine which has more slip to it. The new Candy Glow isn’t as thick in texture as the Candy Glaze. For softness level they’re soft but not as soft as the Tarte Maracuja Juicy Balms, but with the hot summer months coming I do wonder how they’ll hold up in my bag if I’m out and about with the summer heat.

Candy Glow Balms have the same sweet signature YSL lip balm scent like the Candy Glaze and original Rouge Volupte Shines (sweet and fruity). Pigment is sheer medium but noticeable on my pigmented lips. I really love these! You can see them all in action here.

Below all shades, also wearing Armani Luminous Silk Foundation in Shade 6.5, Givenchy Prisme Libre Loose Powder Shade 3, Dior Rosy Glow Blush in Pink, Natasha Denona My Dream Palette.

1B Pink Sunrise is a color shifting shade which will transform into a pink flush
44B Nude Lavalliere is a nude pink and it’s the best variation of all the 44B colors because it has more warmth to it making it more wearable on my complexion (see the others here)
3B Rosewood Blush is a warm rose pink (I think this is my favorite)
5B Nude Crush is a brownish rose
6B Brown Nude is a sheer neutral brown
7B Nude Pleasure is a warm brown

Application in action:

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A post shared by Sabrina Shorb (@beautylookbook)

Overall love. I do like these Candy Glow Balms a lot better than the Loveshine because the lasting power is better. Since there isn’t quite as much slip they grip the lip much better and don’t feel like they’re sliding off. I still really like the Candy Glaze formula and colors but they can feel a little thick, especially in the hot summer months. This newer one is more comfortable on the lips.

A few of you asked how these compare to the Dior Addict Lip Glow and I would say the Dior formula is similar for color/pigment but the texture feels a little more waxy on the lips.

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Available at Sephora, Nordstrom, Neiman Marcus, Selfridges and all YSL Beauty retailers.

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Bobbi Brown Lips

Bobbi Brown Extra Plump Tinted Lip Serums

May 15, 2024

Bobbi Brown Extra Plump Lip Serums ($38) have arrived in tinted colors and the formula is exceptionally good. They initially launched a clear version Bare Pink which is a milky pink in the tube but goes on clear. There are now tinted options which are very sheer and offer a barely there wash of color.

The Extra Plump Lip Serums are smooth non-sticky balms in a wand form. They have a pointy sponge tip applicator and once applied you feel almost instant hydration and relief from any dryness.

They’re described as plumping but there is no tingle or sting. I don’t really find them that plumping, but more enhancing. I would compare the performance to the Charlotte Tilbury Collagen Lip Baths for the plumping effect (the Bobbi Brown ones are a lot sheerer in color and thinner/smoother).

I already splurged on 3 shades last month when they launched in Bare Blossom, Bare Rose and Bare Peach. The Bobbi Brown team sent a fun PR package with all the shades so I’ve swatched them today.

Bare Blossom is a sheer milky pink
Bare Rose is a medium soft pink (one of my favorites)
Bare Peach is a sheer peach
Bare Lilac is a milky pale purple
Bare Cocoa is a sheer soft caramel brown
Bare Raspberry is a sheer red
Bare Plum is a sheer plum red
Bare Pink is a milky pink that is clear

I swatched all of these on the lips on my Reels. I’ve swatched my favorites on the lips in photos below.

I would say Bare Rose is my number one pick, followed by Bare Peach and then Bare Raspberry. They’re all incredibly sheer and I wish the pigment level was at least 50% higher but I think the formula is really good and they’re going to be nice for touch ups throughout the day when you need a boost of moisture for the lips.

Also wearing:

Foundation – Armani Luminous Silk Foundation in 6.5
Powder – Huda Beauty Easy Bake in Banana Bread
Bronzer – Armani Luminous Silk Bronzer 100
Blush – Armani Blush 52 (with the pink shades) and Blush 30 (with the peach lip)
Eyeshadow – Patrick Ta Major Dimension Eyeshadow Palette
Mascara – Tarte Tartelette XL Tubing Mascara
Top – opening image from Sezane, top with lip swatches from Superdown
Nail Polish – Olive and June Quick Dry in Buttercream

Below, BARE ROSE

Overall love, but I don’t think you need more than one color since they’re so sheer. I actually prefer the pigment level in the Crushed Oil-Infused Lip Gloss better and wish they had expanded the shade line instead of launching tinted versions of the Extra Plump Lip Balms, but both are very good.

Available now at Ulta Beauty, Sephora, Nordstrom, Bobbi Brown and Selfridges (they have more shades in the UK).

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Extra Plump Lip Serums provided for review.

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Older Posts

Lips

NARS Explicit Lipstick Review

Fenty Gloss Bomb Stix + Trace’d Out Pencil Lip Liner

Gloss Bomb Stix

Trace’d Out Pencil Lip Liner

Brights by Mario – Makeup by Mario Summer Collection

Soft Pop Plumping Blush Veil

MoistureGlow Plumping Lip Serum

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rhode Pocket Blush + Peptide Lip Tint New Shades

Pocket Blush

Peptide Lip Tint New Shades

Summer Lip Case

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Pat McGrath Dramatique Mega Lip Pencil

YSL Candy Glow Tinted Butter Balm

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Bobbi Brown Extra Plump Tinted Lip Serums

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