I love trying new perfumes and my latest discovery is the Bvlgari Eau Parfumee Au The Blanc. I’ve fallen head over heels in love with it and think it is one of the most beautiful scents I’ve ever tried before. I’m so excited to partner with them to share a closer look today!
The Bulgari Eau Parfumee Au The Blanc is a light floral. It is a clean fresh scent with a beautiful mix of musk, amber, White Tea, Artemisia and white pepper. Au The Blanc has an incredible calming and relaxing kind of feel and I love how the amber mixed in adds warmth to it. It’s packaged in a gorgeous glass 2.5 oz cologne spray bottle and 3-4 spritzes lasts all day on my skin.
Au The Blanc has an elegant feel but is also suitable to wear for every day. I think it’s perfect for this upcoming holiday season as it’s fresh and pretty but not overpowering. It is also available in a Body Lotion and Shampoo and Shower Gel version which I now have on my wish list. The Au The Vert green tea version has come highly recommended by many of you and as a huge fan of bergamot notes I think this will be my next purchase!
I know perfume is so personal to each of us but if you are looking for a new fresh everyday kind of scent with a clean and relaxing vibe, I highly recommend checking out the Eau Parfumee Au The Blanc from Bulgari. I think it’s a timeless classic you can wear year-round as well.
Available at Sephora. If you are shopping the Holiday Savings Event don’t forget to take advantage of the savings which ends on Monday 11/9 – use code HOLIDAYFUN at checkout:
ROUGE Members save 20% off purchases
VIB Members save 15% off purchases
Insiders save 10% off all purchases
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Many thanks to Sephora and BVLGARI for partnering to sponsor this post. As always all opinions are my own.
Happy Friday! I’m rounding up the best for skincare, hair care, body care and fragrance from Sephora today. The Sephora Holiday Savings Event has started for Route and the dates and details are below! Use code HOLIDAYFUN (can use code multiple times in store and online):
Rouge First Access, save 20% off 10/30 through 11/9
That wraps up my favorites for skincare, hair care and body care from Sephora! Hope you found this shopping guide helpful. Would love to hear what your favorites are in the comments. Also as promised I’m hosting a giveaway. I’m giving away three $100 eGift Cards to Sephora. Three people will be selected at random through the widget below to win. Giveaway is open internationally but you must be 18 years or older to enter. The more steps you complete in the widget the more entries you will receive. I will email the winners directly (this is the only way I will contact winners) within 72 hours after the giveaway ends. Winners must respond within 72 hours or another person will be selected in their place. Runs through 11/04/2020 11:59 PM EST. Not sponsored or affiliated.
The Sephora Holiday Savings Event starts on Friday 10/30 for Rouge Members! I’m rounding up the best makeup to splurge on for the sale with my absolute favorites by category. Beauty Insiders can save on all purchases according to tier. The dates and details are as follows, use code HOLIDAYFUN (can use code multiple times in store and online):
Rouge First Access, save 20% off 10/30 through 11/9
VIB Members, save 15% off 11/3 through 11/9
Insiders, save 10% off 11/5 through 11/9
There are some limits so check out their disclaimer page once the sale goes live. I have so many beauty favorites from Sephora, many are not mentioned in this post – but if you have any questions let me know in the comments. To try and help provide a more edited shopping guide I picked my Top 5 per category (a couple of the categories have a few more than 5). I will have a separate post up for Skin/Hair/Body tomorrow!
Eyeshadows are an area that are nearly impossible for me to narrow down to my top 5! I feel like palettes are so personal to one’s taste and preference for shimmer vs matte, warm vs cool, powder vs cream. I picked out my favorite cream singles and then also have a list of my favorite brands for powder palettes.
Natasha Denona – I love her Mini Eye Palettes, in particular Mini Nude and her larger palettes like the Biba Palette or Glam Palette give you a lot for the price
Charlotte Tilbury also makes beautiful eyeshadow palettes that are easy to wear and versatile
Most-Used Eyeshadows – Charlotte Tilbury La Bella Sofia, Natasha Denona Nude, Tom Ford Mink Mirage or Natasha Denona Biba, Hourglass Scattered Light in Blaze, Laura Mercier Caviar Eye Stick in Rosegold
Liner / Mascara
Best Liquid Eyeliner – Tom Ford Eye Defining Pen (one of the best out there, and 100% worth the splurge)
Best Brow Pencil – Anastasia Brow Wiz (best color range, I use Caramel or Taupe because my brows are lighter than my hair color)
That wraps up my ultimate makeup shopping guide! I hope you find this helpful 🙂 I tried to link all the swatches and reviews I could where applicable. I’ll be sharing my skincare recommendations tomorrow and check back because I’ll be hosting a giveaway in that post.
To recap Sephora Sale details are as follows, use code HOLIDAYFUN (can use code multiple times in store and online):
Rouge First Access, save 20% off 10/30 through 11/9
I’m excited to share a roundup of my fall beauty staples with some new finds from Nordstrom! I am thrilled to report that I have found a new holy grail hydration duo for hands and lips. Also by popular request I ordered a few of the new YSL lip stains to swatch and try for the season. I’ve partnered with Nordstrom today to share some new favorites along with a few staples that are going to be versatile throughout the year.
Foundation, Concealer and Powder
For my foundation I’ve been reaching for three things recently. For a minimalist natural glow the Laura Mercier Tinted Moisturizer is the best I’ve tried and one I’ve repurchased multiple times. For extra coverage or a long-wear formula I love the Laura Mercier Flawless Fusion (I wear Dusk 3W1) or the Tom Ford Traceless Soft Matte Foundation (I wear Natural 6.0 and Sable 6.5). These three are my no-fail go-to’s I think will suit a wide range of skin types.
Concealer-wise I think the Cle de Peau Concealer Stick is the best for full coverage. I currently wear Buff to spot conceal because it’s an exact match for my skin. If I want brightening I’ll go with Ocher. For under eyes the Cle de Peau Corrector for Eyes is an opaque but easy to blend formula with a brush applicator. This is what I’ve been using under eyes recently to conceal dark circles and brighten the under eye area. I think it’s 100% worth the splurge. If you want something more affordable you can’t go wrong with the ones from Laura Mercier and NARS – they’re versatile and have a nice shade range.
For powder long-time readers know that the Charlotte Tilbury Airbrush Flawless Finish in Medium is my holy grail and I still love it. I’m also a huge fan of the Sisley Blur Expert to give the skin a soft diffused evened out finish. This is my second compact and although spendy I think it’s a great product to give the skin a luminous matte look.
For touch-ups I think the Charlotte Tilbury Air-Brush is one of the softest retractable powder brushes I’ve ever tried. You can use it for bronzer or powder. I like that it has a protective cap.
The Best Cheek Palette
I’ve been really loving the Hourglass Sculpture Ambient Lighting Edit Palette. It’s the one cheek palette I brought with me on a recent trip and I used it the entire time. It has everything I need in one compact! I love how natural and flattering the glow is. I’ve been pairing it with the No 28 Lip Treatment Oil in Bare (also love Adorn and Cameo) for a healthy pink glow.
Eye Makeup Staples
For eye makeup I get so many requests for a good all-matte neutral-cool palette recommendation. This can be harder to find these days as most palettes have warm shades or something with shimmer. The Tom Ford Eyeshadow Quad in Mink Mirage is the best neutral-cool matte quad. It has classic colors that you can wear everyday. Colors are smooth, opaque and easy to blend. I find myself reaching for this a lot! You can dress it up by adding more of the deep brown or black for a smokey look.
For mascara I’ve been really impressed with the NARS Climax Extreme – it gives length, volume and holds the curl with no smudging on me. It has an extreme dark pigment which coats the lashes in a bolder look.
Another product I use weekly is the Laura Mercier Caviar Eye Stick in Rosegold. It’s my go-to all over base color to add a bit of glow. They just launched a Mini Caviar Stick Set for holiday with Au Naturel (cool-neutral beige), Rosegold (shimmery champagne, the color I use almost daily as a base), Intense Moonlight (sparkling taupe) and Magnetic Pink (metallic pale pink). If you’re new to the formula I think the minis are a nice way to try different colors.
New YSL Lips
YSL launched new Water Glow Lip Stains which are a gloss/stain hybrid that lasts long and leaves a glow. I picked four shades to try and think they’re lovely! They do darken and deepen once they set for a bolder color. I am wearing 207 Illegal Rosy Nude in the opening photo of this blog post. Other colors I picked include 203 Restricted Pink (healthy brighter pink), 202 Insurgent Red (brown red) and 211 Transgressive Cacao (plum mauve). They leave a stain on the lips but it’s not impossible to remove at the end of the day. Overall look to me is more glossy than a traditional stain but I really like these. They have that signature sweet YSL lip scent.
While at the counter one of the beauty stylists recommended the Lip Pencil in 04 Rose Fume which is the most perfect pink mauve I think I have ever seen. It’s creamy and smooth and I can’t wait to use it more this season.
Cozy Scents for Fall
The weather has definitely shifted and fall has arrived although it’s still warm here. My go-to citrus scents seem a bit out of place so I’ve been wearing the new Jo Malone Fig and Lotus Flower Cologne (perfect fig scent) and started wearing my Byredo Bal D’Afrique again (mix of bergamot, vetiver and cedar). I think both are unique and long-lasting.
My top two candles for the home are Diptyque Santal (soft creamy sandalwood) and Baies (blackcurrant and rose). They make the home smell cozy and they both brighten the mood in different ways! Holiday sets just launched and the Mini 5 Piece Set is always a great way to sample them if you haven’t tried them before! It also makes the cutest gift.
Must-Have Skincare Treats
I picked up two sets from La Mer and am in LOVE! The Rejuvenating Hydration Set has a mini Hand Treatment which is super silky and hydrating and a full sized Lip Volumizer which is a hydrating lip serum. The Lip Volumizer is more of a plumping product versus a balm but it feels smooth and softens my lips. You can use it under balm or lip color, but for me it feels smooth enough to use as a balm. I have been a huge fan of the La Mer Hand Serum and decided to give this set a try because it has a mini of the Hand Treatment. I think once this is used up I’ll splurge on the full size.
The Mini Miracle Broth Set is another one I picked up, mainly for a recent vacation as it has 4 minis of the Cleansing Foam, Treatment Lotion, Regenerating Serum and Moisturizing Soft Cream. It worked well for our trip and I think it’s a great starter set to try their products. There are different variations during the holiday, so I’d recommend finding one with the lotion or moisturizer formula you prefer. I really like the Soft Cream or Soft Lotion so this one was perfect for me.
That wraps up my fall beauty staples post! I have quite a bit in rotation right now but wanted to put together an edited roundup of the things I’ve been reaching for the most. As always I’d love to hear what you have in rotation right now! Or if you have any new beauty finds let me know in the comments! If you’re shopping online don’t forget to check out the Gift With Purchase page.
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Many thanks to Nordstrom for partnering to sponsor this post. All items purchased by me. As always all opinions are my own.
Hourglass launched a few new things recently and I have a new Hourglass haul roundup featuring products for eyes, lips and cheeks. Everything is available at Sephora and Hourglass Cosmetics. In today’s roundup:
The latest addition to the Ambient Lighting Powder line is the new Ambient Lighting Infinity Powder. This has a mix of two Ambient Lighting Powders and a Strobe Highlighter in one swirled compact. I wasn’t exactly sure what this was intended for – is it a highlighter? Setting powder? Blurring powder? On my medium tan skin I found it to be a good finishing powder to use after my foundation and regular powder. It acts like a soft glow powder to add some radiance all over.
Color is sheer – it looks like a beige yellow with some pink swirls in the compact. On the skin I think your mileage will vary depending on skin tone but for me it’s sheer and subtle enough to use all over the face. The effect is subtle but still noticeable on my skin. I don’t think it’s different enough from the Diffused or Dim Light to justify owning but I do like how it looks on the skin.
I’ve read a few people said this made their skin look dry. This was not the case at all for me. However I do think some shimmer powders can emphasize dry patches or lines if the color is either too light or too matchy. Sometimes pale pink or pale champagne highlighters look terrible on my medium skin because the shimmer emphasizes lines.
Product is sheer so this will look different on you depending on your skin tone and undertone. Swatch comparisons below for reference:
Ambient Lighting Blushes
There are two new Ambient Lighting Blushes in Sublime Flush which is a soft pink shimmer (this was in Ghost 2019 palette) and At Night which is a brick red mixed with pink champagne. Both are really lovely! Pigment is medium but easy to build or sheer out. On me lasting power is very good – they stay put all day. Swatch comparisons to a few other blushes, they look really similar on my arm but they definitely look different on the face:
Sublime Flush is not quite as deep or flushed on my medium tan skin but definitely shows up. Since I’m a bit darker than normal it is almost light a highlighter.
Below wearing the Hourglass Ambient Lighting Blush in Sublime Flush with the No. 28 Lip Oil in Adorn. Beauty breakdown:
At Night is a really pretty soft almost diffused brick red on the skin. It’s very wearable and for me one of the more unique colors. I think this is the perfect transition to fall. It’s not too dark or dramatic.
Below wearing the At Night Blush with At Night Lip Oil
No 28 Lip Treatment Oil
I’ve been a huge fan of the No 28 Lip Treatment Oils even though I think they are crazy expensive. At Night is a medium-sheer brick red with blue tones on my skin. I believe it was a limited-edition release a while ago but it slipped my radar until now. The color itself will fade within a few hours but since it’s an oil it fades evenly and nicely so you don’t have that dark ring around the edges. This is a nice red option that isn’t too bright or deep – it’s the perfect red for those who feel like they can’t pull off reds. It’s what I had hoped the Victoria Beckham Bitten Lip Tint would be (which turned purple on my lips).
Mascara is a category I just don’t get excited about. I feel like most of them are hype but in all fairness I have wimpy lashes which will rarely holds the curl and since they are very straight it often looks like I don’t have any. The Unlocked Instant Extensions Mascara is a tubing mascara which I found ok for a tubing formula. It takes 2-3 uses to get it going for me. I found it did lengthen and added nice volume but it had zero holding power for the curl and it made my lashes straighten out. I prefer the Caution Extreme formula from Hourglass, but out of all the new formulas that have launched this year I feel like the best ones are the new Pat McGrath Dark Star and Kosas Big Clean. A lot of you have mentioned you love the Ilia Limitless Lash which I did try and like the look of, but think I’m allergic to (my eyes got terribly itchy with this one).
Bottom line I think it’s ok. Didn’t work for me but most formulas don’t. If your lashes can hold the curl and you don’t mind tubing mascaras then I do think it’s worth a try.
Voyeur Waterproof Liquid Liner
The Hourglass Voyeur Waterproof Liquid Liner isn’t a new launch but it’s been on my radar for some time. I had high hopes as I love their 1.5 MM Mechanical Gel Liner. My feelings are mixed – it does give a super deep glossy black finish and is indeed waterproof on me. Cons for me are the dry time isn’t quick so it smudges if I blink without letting it dry. Once it sets it does stay put. The other downside for me is the brush. It’s like a felt tip which is very delicate and after one use already looks like it will wear down. Since the applicator is kinda essential I don’t think I will be repurchasing. The Tom Ford Eye Defining Liquid Liner Pen and Cle de Peau Intensifying Liquid Eyeliner are far superior and 100% worth the splurge.
I think there are some winners with the new launches! I really love the look of the At Night blush and lip oil. Sublime Flush is a pretty pink but still a little light for me unless I pack it on. The Infinity Powder ended up working for my complexion but I don’t think it’s unique enough to get super excited about.
You can find the Hourglass launches now at Sephora and Hourglass Cosmetics. Have you checked anything out yet? What did you think?
The Nordstrom Anniversary Sale opens up to the public today! Today I’m rounding up the best Nordstrom Anniversary Sale beauty deals with my haul picks for makeup, skincare, fragrance and hair. Starting today they will also be launching Daily Deals with special savings and promos for beauty. Also if you’re shopping online don’t forget to check out the Gift With Purchase section as they update it frequently. My haul picks are primarily focused on makeup sets – I think there are some really good bundles and palettes this year!
NARS Sur La Plage Full Size Lip Balm Set $49 – NARS has some really cute sets this year and I was pleasantly surprised to find this super cute trio! The Afterglow Lip Balm formula is one of my favorites and this year the Sur La Plage Set has threefull size lip balms in Orgasm (classic pink), Marabella (sheer poppy coral) and Baja (sheer pink red). The clutch is super cute for summer too.
Marabella swatched on the lips (other shades swatched if you scroll down)
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NARS Mini Oil-Infused Lip Tint Duo $24 – Another favorite is the NARS Oil-Infused Lip Tints and for the Nordstrom Sale they have new shades in mini-form! Beausoleil is a sheer shimmering gold and Solstice is a sheer clear strawberry pink. They have a sheer wash of color and on me they don’t transform the lip color. I love lip oils in general and think this is a cute way to try the formula.
Left Solstice (sheer pink), right Beausoleil (sheer gold)
Swatches of both lip sets below:
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NARS Vacances Face Set $49 – This palette is a winner for me. It has three easy to wear eyeshadows and a neutral rose blush. The eyeshadows are Alhambra I (shimmery champagne), Comporta (metallic nude champagne copper) and Rhodes (metallic plum). The blush is called Behave which is a matte rose. If you’re looking for a no-fuss everyday palette that can be worn year round I this one is really nice!
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Bobbi Brown Full Size Extra Lip Tint Duo $29 – As a fan of balms I almost always buy the Bobbi Brown Extra Lip Tint sets every year. The set this year has Bare Pink (color-transforming, on me it transforms into a flushed bright pink) and Bare Rose (soft rosy pink). They’re comfortable without feeling thick.
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Bobbi Brown Full Sized Vitamin Enriched Face Base Duo $60 – If you’re a fan of Bobbi Brown skincare there are some really good bundles and value sets. The Vitamin Enriched Face Base has been a staple for years that doubles as a moisturizer and primer. For the sale they have a set of two 1.69 oz jars for $60 ($120 value).
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Tom Ford Eye Color Quad and Mini Lip Color Set $88 – Another splurge I buy religiously is any Tom Ford beauty set from the sale. They usually have an eyeshadow palette with mini lipsticks bundle and this year the set includes Burnished Amber Eyeshadow Quad, Casablanca Lip Color (classic rose mauve) and Scarlet Rouge (deep red). I decided to give the eyeshadow quad a try which has a shimmery gold, warm pink red, deeper plum red shimmer and a shimmery copper. The overall look is on the warm side but I think it will be really lovely for fall.
Below wearing the Burnished Amber eyeshadow quad and Scarlet Rouge lip color
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Charlotte Tilbury always has some great sets to pick from! I really love the Glowing Gorgeous Eye Secrets Set with full-sized items. It has two Eyes to Mesmerize Cream Shadows in Golden Eclipse and Star Gold (one of my favorites) along with their Legendary Lashes Volume 2 Mascara. I use her cream shadows almost daily alone or as a base.
Her cult classic Pillow Talk Lip Secrets Set is my absolute must-have from the sale. The Collagen Lip Bath in Pillow Talk always gets me compliments whenever I wear it and is a soft rosy pink. I use her Pillow Talk Lip Cheat and Matte Revolution religiously – the set is priced at $68 ($91 value).
Below wearing all three of the Pillow Talk lip items layered together
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Oribe Full Size Gold Lust Dry Shampoo and Dry Texturizing Spray Set $64 ($96 value) is a great deal if you like dry shampoo or texturizers. I alternate between both and usually have some minis on hand. The full sizes are the better buy though and with the sale this is a great time to save as they’re pretty pricey at full price!
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Fragrance and Hand Care – I have a few Fragrance and Hand Care picks that I think are great options to put on your radar.
Le Labo Santal 33 and Another 13 Eau de Parfum Duo $98 is a cute sampler set with two perfumes. I love Santal in the candle form and used to use the perfume a while ago. I thought this was a nice way to try two of their scents.
Creed Les Essentiels Fragrance Trio $175 – I bought this for Andrew. Aventus is his signature scent (I’ve bought him many bottles and the flacons too). He has a few of his own atomizers already and I’m always on the lookout for sets like this for him to try other scents. If you’re looking for a really good cologne set this is THE BEST one. Aventus literally stops people on the street who pass us by – they always want to know what he’s wearing!
Supergoop! Handscreen Sunscreen Set $44 ($66 value) – I have tried to make a better effort to wear sunscreen on my hands. It’s one area I neglect for sun protection. I bought two of these sets and am sending one to my sister-in-law. The minis are perfect to throw in a small bag.
Le Labo Hand Soap Jumbo Size in Basil $40 – This is Andrew’s favorite hand soap formula. We just used up last year’s Hinoki scent and he asked me to repurchase this year’s which is Basil.
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That wraps up my Nordstrom Beauty Haul favorites! I have a couple more things on the way that I ordered including the Diptyque 5-Piece Travel Set and T3 Luxe Brush Set which I think are great values but didn’t receive them in time for this roundup. Quick recap: The Nordstrom Anniversary Sale is now open to the public starting today and runs through August 30th. They will have different beauty deals every day so check back on their site for the daily special and possible restocks if something you had your eye on is sold out.
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Many thanks to Nordstrom for partnering to sponsor this post. As always all opinions my own. All items purchased by me.
I hauled a few of the Fenty Slip Shine Sheer Shiny Lipsticks ($22 each for 2.8g / 0.098 oz) from Sephora and finally have a review with swatches. I’m a huge fan of sheer glossy lipsticks in general so I had high hopes for these sheer lipsticks from Fenty. I think they’re winners – they’re comfortable, cushiony, not heavy or too slippery and have a nice sheer-medium coverage. I feel like they have a little less slip than the YSL Rouge Volupte Shines (these feel like they slide around a little more) and a little more pigment than the neutral Chanel Rouge Coco Flash lipsticks.
Given the overall vibe of Fenty Beauty I was surprised to see so many neutrals in the lineup. I’m not complaining though since I’m a neutral lip lover! My favorite one ended up being the brightest color they launched. I hope they expand the line – would love to see a plum, a deeper brighter rose, and a few more peachy colors.
Lasting power is decent for a sheer lipstick. They have a balmy like feel so they won’t be long lasting like a traditional lipstick. You can always use these to top a liner for more depth or color. I hauled 7 of the colors. I love 5 of them. 2 were just ok because of the color, but quality is still really nice.
Close ups and swatches of the Fenty Slip Shine Sheer Shiny Lipstick on the arm, as usual with sheer lipsticks, these will look very different once on the lips. All of these have some degree of shimmer in the tube but it’s not frosty at all. The shimmer is very subtle on my lips.
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Makeout Break is a light sheer beige nude. Since I have pigmented lips this barely showed up on me so I had to pack it on. Other things I’m wearing in the post:
Glazed is a really nice neutral beige. It has a slightly pinkish undertone on my lips, but on the hand it pulls more peachy.
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Retro Rose is such a pretty soft pink rose, I kinda wish this were a little more pigmented but I like the overall vibe. I can just add a rosy lip liner underneath to bring out the color.
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Goji Gang is a deeper rose with a subtle plum tone to it.
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Cookies and Cocoa is a great everyday brownish plum color.
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Suga Kiss is a blue based baby pink. When I bought this I knew it probably wouldn’t work but I still wanted to give it a try. Does not work with my coloring.
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Tang Thang is my favorite. It’s a bright orange in the tube but is more wearable than it looks.
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I’m overall pleased with my haul picks and I think the quality is really nice. They’re comfortable to wear. Naturally flattering. Easy to just throw on for some shine and color. I almost think they are better than the YSL formula. My top three picks are Glazed, Retro Rose and Tang Thang. That being said if you’re a sheer lipstick or balm fan and you haven’t bought any of these yet, you may want to wait for the new Pat McGrath Rose Decadence collection launching this week and there are new tinted balms which I am DYING to see.
I bought mine from Sephora. You can also find these online at Fenty Beauty. Have you tried any of these yet? What did you think?
