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Monthly Beauty Favorites: Skincare

October 2, 2015

Happy October everyone! I hope you had a great September. It’s officially fall but we’re still having really warm sunny days in the high 70s and it feels like fall weather will never arrive. September brought about a number of new beauty discoveries, in particular new lipsticks. I think I fell in love with every single new lipstick formula I tried from Charlotte Tilbury (hands down one of the best mattes ever), Louboutin (oh so luxurious), Buxom Cosmetics (so many good colors with an amazing formula) and Tom Ford (how can you not love TF lipsticks?).

I decided to do a different favorites roundup this month and focus on skincare loves. Smooth clear skin has been a focus lately and I’ve been trying new things over the past few months. It takes time to see visible results – so here are some things I’ve been putting to the test and absolutely love. My skin has improved a lot – even my husband has commented on it. As always if you have any skincare recommendations I’m all ears! I just picked up this AmorePacific Moisture Bound Set because so many of you raved about the Enzyme Peel in the comments.

Here’s what I’ve been loving this month (the bag above is one of the pouches from the MAC Clearly MAC Trio):

My go-to moisturizer all throughout the summer has been the Eve Lom Brightening Cream ($110 for 1.7 fl oz). It’s described as a hydra-cream designed to “correct pigmentation and boost luminosity to reveal beautifully radiant and even-toned skin.” It has a brightening ingredient called Dermapep™ that corrects hyperpigmentation – after using this I’ve noticed my skin is visibly more bright, complexion is smooth and dark spots become less noticeable. I would say it’s better as a daily lightweight moisturizer rather than a spot corrector – but it has kept my skin smooth, lightly hydrated and works well with all the foundations I use. Even with daily use for months I still have a good portion of the jar left – so I’m thrilled it’s lasted a long time.

Last month I had the opportunity to receive a complimentary facial at the Kate Somerville Clinic on Melrose (more on this soon). It was hands down the best facial I’ve ever had and I highly recommend the clinic. Since then I’ve been slowly incorporating some Kate Somerville items in my routine. On your first visit they provide a detailed questionnaire for you to fill out on your skin type, preferences and goals. Mine included dark spot correction, texture improvement, anti-aging prevention, help with wrinkles on my forehead, brightening. The facial and products are used in various treatment processes in concentrated formulas based on your needs. Three things I’ve been loving:
  • The Daily Detox Cleanser ($34 for 4 fl oz) is a really good deep-cleaning cleanser for everyday. I use it with my Clarisonic. It helps fight acne and removes impurities from the skin. It’s helped to rebalance my skin and even with the heat we’ve been having my skin is less oily. It contains phytic acid which helps fade post-acne scars and reduce inflammation. I can’t rave about this enough.
  • Dermal Quench Liquid Lift Advanced Wrinkle Treatment ($95 for 2.5 oz) was recommended as a replacement for my regular toner. It’s a product that helps combat all my skin issues: aging, wrinkles, uneven skintone. It also helps with dryness – and I’ve seen a big improvement in my skin. Forehead lines have started to soften and using this helps prep the skin for serums or moisturizers.
  • RetAsphere 2-in-1 Retinol Night Cream ($85 for 1 fl oz) is something I’ve been experimenting with as well. It’s been recommended by many that I incorporate some kind of retinol treatments into my routine. I have super sensitive skin and things I’ve tried in the past have been too strong for me. This one is ultra gentle and as a night time treatment, I’ve noticed it’s helped smooth the skin while increasing firmness. My skin looks more glowing and soft. I’ve tried this every other night for several weeks and I’ve had no irritation.
The Aesop Parsley Seed Mask ($39 for 60 ml) still remains a tried and true favorite. It’s my go-to cleansing and clarifying mask that really draws out all the yuck from your skin. It’s recommended use for 2x per week, but I’ve found it gentle enough for me to use 4x per week on trouble spots. I love how effective it is while still being suitable for sensitive skin.

I’ve tested a number of cleansing oils and have several favorites. These days I’ve been loving the SK-II Facial Treatment Cleansing Oil ($70 for 8.4 oz). It has a lightweight pleasantly refreshing scent to it. It has a good medium thickness to it – it’s fluid but not too fluid. I love how it blends into the skin easily and seamlessly. It emulsifies well with warm water and removes all trace of makeup (I still remove my waterproof mascara/eyeliner with a cotton pad first though). Leaves the skin feeling completely clean, soft and hydrated with no greasy residue.
Tatcha is always a favorite in my regular skincare routine. The Pore Perfecting Sunscreen Broad Spectrum SPF 35 ($68 for 2 fl oz) is my holy grail face sunscreen. It has a smooth texture that disappears completely into the skin (no white cast). It helps control oil on me and doubles as an amazing primer for foundation. The Indigo Soothing Silk Hand Cream ($38 for 2 fl oz) is a staple for sensitive or dry skin. I’ve bought many tubes and given them as gifts to friends. The entire Indigo line is phenomenal. If you’re new to the line, there is a mini set that I also recommend.

I’ve featured the MAC Prep + Prime Blemish Control Gel ($22 for 05 fl oz) before and it’s still a staple. It’s one of the few acne spot treatments I can use during the day without it making the skin look weird and goopy (others leave a weird clear film that is noticeable). It’s also one of the few that really works to help acne spots disappear without making the skin super red by the next day. I think I’m on my third tube – I also recommended my husband try it and it’s strong enough for his skin.

Last but not least for lips, I’ve been loving the Glossier Coconut Balmdotcom ($12) and Dior Crème de Rose ($28). Both are super hydrating and make the lips feel smooth without that greasy feel. My lips are super sensitive and I’ve gotten reaction to several lip balms (they go numb and then tingle and swell up). These are perfect for my sensitive lips and keep the dry flakes away.
I hope everyone has a great Friday and will have some time to enjoy the weekend! As always I’d love to hear about your current beauty favorites. It’s a great way for me to learn about new things 🙂
Press samples featured in this post include items from Kate Somerville, Eve Lom, Tatcha and Glossier. All other items purchased by me.
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A Few New MAC Additions: MACnificent Me! Eyeshadow Palette, Patentpolish Lip Pencils and Pro Longwear Lip Pencils

September 29, 2015

It’s been a while since I’ve done a MAC haul – I’m usually not on top of my game with new collection launches, so many times everything sells out literally in the blink of an eye. This time I was on top of my e-mails and ordered a few items from the new MACnificent Me! Collection right when it launched (it launches in stores this Thursday). Also I picked up some of the Pro Longwear Lip Pencils from my local MAC store so I thought I’d do a roundup of my recent MAC acquisitions.

First up is the MACnificent Me! Eyeshadow Palette ($40 for 9 mini eyeshadows). I have a couple other x9 eyeshadow palettes in Amber and Burgundy – they are on the small side but are super cute and nice to bring along for travel if you’re super tight on space. The colors in the MACnificent Me! palette make up the perfect neutral-cool-soft rose-nude-plum mix and the texture/pigment far exceeds the other two. The pans are very tiny – I prefer the full size pans, but the pigment in this one is really good.

Top Row: MACnificent Me! (f), Quiet Type (f), Dance in the Dark (m)
Middle Row: Fabulous DNA (f), Pleasing to the Eye (m), Sable (f)
Bottom Row: Frankly Frosty (m), In my Element (l), Cool Complement (m)

A quick look at the Burgundy and Amber next to the MACnificent Me! for comparison purposes:

Next up are the Patentpolish Lip Pencils ($20 each) from the MACnificent Me collection. I tried a few of these from the MAC Kelly Osborne Collection (from summer 2014). I ordered mine sight unseen as they looked like the perfect neutrals. I knew there might be a chance one or two of them would be too pale but I didn’t want to miss out, so I ordered 4. These are indeed on the lighter side, but 3 of the 4 worked. These are super glossy chubby pencils. Lasting power is medium – better than the MAC lustre lipstick formula, but not as long as the matte formula. I like that they twist up so there’s no sharpening required.
  • Make Me Proud is the perfect baby rose pink cream
  • My Flip Side is a really good nude brown color that doesn’t make me look like a corpse
  • It’s Really Me is a peach pink nude, on me it turns slightly pinkish, it’s a gorgeous nude
  • Pleasure’s All Mine is a weird super pale pink, in the heat of the sun, these started to melt a tiny bit when I was photographing it, this one turned a lighter color on the outside, on the lips, it’s like concealer but worse

Last but not least is my first look at the Pro Longwear Lip Pencils ($20 each). I picked up three neutrals in the store – I should have been more discerning and picked up colors that were more different but I had my hand covered in at least 20 pencil marks. These lip liners are seriously long-lasting. They stay put on the lips for like forever. I was hoping to do lip swatches with my lips lined and filled in – but the formula does not look good on my lips all over. It’s too thick and the pigment is super rich so it makes my lips look super dry. As a traditional lipliner though these are really good. There are a lot of good colors to choose from.
  • Cultured is the lightest one, it’s a neutral pink mauve with a hint of pearl (it goes perfectly with Chanel Wild Rose Glossimer and makes it look really good)
  • Staunchly Stylish is a deeper pink
  • Double-Time is the perfect cafe brown pink neutral 

My MAC lip picks swatched side by side:

I’m really pleased with everything with the exception of Patentpolish in Pleasure’s All Mine although I knew there was a chance at least one of the pencils would be too pale for my skintone. The MACnificent Me! eyeshadow palette is a real winner in the collection – it’s the perfect rosy-toned neutral palette for fall I think will suit a number of skintones. Be sure to visit the MACnificent Me section of MAC’s site to see the beautiful before and after photos transformations with the different beauty looks.
At this time, I believe all the items I featured are limited-edition MAC colors (except Staunchly Stylish). You can find the items in stores and counters right now. Online at Nordstrom, Macy’s, Bloomingdale’s and MAC.

Did you pick up anything from the MACnificent Me collection? Or have you picked up anything from the regular line recently?

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Birchbox September Subscription Box and From Korea, With Love Beauty Collection

September 27, 2015
Today I’m sharing my first look at Birchbox subscription boxes along with a review of a limited-edition box they launched a few weeks ago. I’m a relatively new subscriber to Birchbox – this is my second monthly box that I’ve received and so far I’m pleased. I opted for the basic $10/month box – although I’m learning there are other options and upgrades you can select. For $10/month you get 5 samples each month based on a beauty profile you fill out on areas ranging from skin, hair, style, etc.
Each month you receive a different small cardboard box with different designs. September’s box design was inspired by moodboards created by subscribers which I think is super fun. These are the items I received – based on what I’ve seen on social channels and other reviews, everyone gets a slightly different box based on preferences in your profile. 

Featured in my September box from left to right:

  • POP Beauty POP Eyeshadow Trio Sugar Plum – this has three shadows from the POP Beauty line, the colors in mine are all cool-toned and I’m not a fan of purples so I actually gifted mine away to a friend who adores plum colors, I didn’t have a chance to test or swatch it
  • Davines LOVE Smoothing Shampoo and Conditioner – I used to use Davines when my salon carried the line and I loved it, this is my first time trying the LOVE line. Both are infused with an olive extract and are super hydrating on the hair. I have normal thick hair and wash it daily. This Davines left the hair super soft and well moisturized, I wouldn’t use it for everyday, but it has a soft scent that is fresh and clean. It’s slightly floral and a tiny bit sweet – it’s hard to describe but I love both. Enough that I’m seriously considering purchasing the full size for winter.
  • Juice Beauty Green Apple Peel for Sensitive Skin – this is a super liquidy thin-textured peel. I have sensitive skin that feels any tingly sensation immediately. I didn’t feel any stinging, pain, or tingle with this one. I’ve only used it five times so far on a small portion of my face. I haven’t noticed a huge difference – the skin is smoother on the area I tested it. I think I’ll need to do more testing to see, but I like the concept of a super gentle peel that won’t sting the skin. I suspect since it’s gentle – it will take a bit more use to see more visible results.
  • English Laundry Eau de Parfum Signature for Her – this is the only thing I did not like, it’s a strong bright floral rose, it’s not horrible, the scent is just not for me – I found it too floral and too sweet.
  • Malin + Goetz Grapefruit Face Cleanser and Vitamin E Moisturizer – I’m a fan of both, I’ve bought and used up full sizes of the face wash, I’ve gone through many sample minis of the Vitamin E Face Moisturizer. The Grapefruit Face Wash is a nice gel-like cleanser that is super gentle but cleans the skin and helps clear it up without drying out the skin. The Vitamin E Moisturizer is a super gentle moisturizer that I find good for normal to oily skin. If you have dry skin, it probably won’t be moisturizing enough for you.
Next up is the From Korea, With Love Beauty Collection Box ($35). Unfortunately this sold out in a matter of a few days and although you can buy everything individually, each item is also currently wait listed. I was happy I was able to purchase a box before it sold out. Right now it’s available on waitlist for subscribers as an add on for the October Box. I’ve been told that it will also be available in the Soho Store in New York mid-October.

Items featured in this box are all very cute with a youthful look and feel to the packaging. Here’s what came in the collection box:
  • Too Cool for School Dinoplatz Escalator Mascara – This is a really interesting mascara. It has a twist function on the cap on the wand end that allows you to control the length of the mascara wand. If you twist it up to extend it, the wand lengthens and allows for a more lengthening and defining application. If you twist it down to shorten it, bristles shrink closer together and you get a thicker more volumized lash look. The color is a true deep black. It holds the curl of my super straight lashes and doesn’t smudge at all. I have super skimpy lashes so I wish it volumized more, but it defines and stays put so I’m a happy camper.
  • IPKN Twinkle Lips in Glow Pink – This is a clear light pink lip color in the tube, but it’s like the Dior Lip Glow – it reacts to your lip chemistry and turns color. On me it transforms into a deep rosy flushed pink. There’s no tingling sensation and it feels very moisturizing. I like that there is no scent and it lasts a long time even though it’s glossy it stays put.
  • Tonymoly Panda’s Dream Brightening Eye Base – This is a brightening eye base for under the eye. It’s a sheer white pearl cream that comes in a twist up tube. The packaging is really cute, but even though I’d like to call myself young at heart I don’t know how I feel about having a panda packaged eye brightener. The product itself does brighten the eyes – I’m borderline too tan for it – it’s very white (even though it blends out). I do get lighter in the winter months so I think it will be perfect in a couple months. I’ve been using it alone under foundation and also under concealer. You only need a tiny swipe of it and it goes a long way. So far it stays put, it doesn’t cake or crease.
  • Too Cool for School Egg Cream Mask – This is something I’ve been reading about and it has so many raves I was excited to try it. This mask has extracts of egg white and yolk which to me sounds less than appealing. I was relieved to find that it was pleasantly scented. The sheet mask itself is super saturated – I found mine a bit drippy, so I recommend applying it over a sink. This is one of the most soothing masks I’ve tried. It feels really nice on the skin and helps to calm it down. I have mixed feelings about the results – it does leave the face soft, smooth and hydrated but the texture is thick and slippery – I couldn’t leave it on the skin after removing the sheet. I had to rinse my face off. The effects of the mask after use aren’t the same as SK-II, Tatcha or Kiehl’s (all of which I can still feel after it’s removed). That being said the skin does look more refreshed and radiant after use.
  • Tonymoly Magic Good Banana Hand Milk – Is a thick almost pomade-texture cream. It smells like sweet candy bananas which seems more suitable for eating than for skincare. The good news is that the scent fades after a few minutes. The texture absorbs quickly into the skin and makes the hands look super smooth and soft. I wish it had a different scent and then I’d be all over this one. I’m not sure how I feel about wearing banana-scented skincare.
  • CLIO Waterproof Pen Liner in Kill Black – This is an eyeliner one of my friends has been raving about. She wears liquid liner daily so she’s tried tons of them. She says this one is the best one she’s ever tried. I gave it a test run and am also impressed. It’s a true glossy black and is super easy to apply. The tip is sturdy but not pokey. It stayed put all day long on me without fading or smudging. I’m a convert.
Overall I’m really happy with the Birchbox subscription service so far. Each box comes with a small description card. September’s box came with a 20% off coupon which was a nice surprise. At $10 a month – I think it’s fun to try new things without having to buy the full size of. Still, over the course of the year it can add up and I know some would prefer to choose things rather pay for a random selection of samples. This is the first beauty subscription service I’ve tried – I know they’ve been around for years so if you’ve tried any, I’d love to hear your thoughts!

Or if you haven’t tried them, if you have any Korean Beauty loves, please share! I’m starting to explore more and have fallen in love so far. I’m going through several different brands of sheet masks and hope to have a roundup review soon.

You can subscribe to the boxes online. Birchbox Women are $10/month, Birchbox Man costs $20/month. Or you can visit their store in Soho to build your own box (which I hope to visit someday!).

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Bold Lips with Buxom

September 24, 2015

This fall Buxom launched a new lipstick formula called Big & Sexy Bold Gel Lipstick ($22 each for 2.8 g / 0.09 oz, exclusive to Sephora). These are described as vividly bold moisturizing lip colors that come in a unique gel-like formula. The texture is lightweight like a gel, but super creamy and they are so pigmented they cover the entire lip with one swipe. There are 30 shades total and they come in two finishes: satin and matte. I’m excited to share that I’ve teamed up with Buxom to share a couple of looks and swatches of all the colors.

The lipsticks come cased in an ultra modern black magnetic tube with the Buxom name embossed on the side. The Satin Formula comes in a glossy black lacquered tube while the Matte Formula comes in a black brushed matte finish tube. Color below is my favorite out of the entire collection called Coral Confession. The lipstick bullets fill up the tube entirely to the sides, I find the packaging sturdy and they look really sleek. Caps are magnetic.

The color selection is quite impressive. There are a lot of colors to
choose from in both textures ranging from light pinks, neutral roses,
soft beiges, bright reds, deep plums and corals. Both formulas are really good in terms of pigment. The Satin Finish colors have a creamier feel with a slight sheen that gives the lips a glossy lush look. The Matte Finish colors have a lightweight texture that glides on the lips. They are mattes with dimension though and are pretty moisturizing for a matte finish lipstick. The gel lipsticks do have a medium to strong vanilla scent, but it’s not overly sweet. Lasting power of both is quite good. I find the mattes last really long on me, about 4 hours without fading (transfer does happen when I drink coffee or tea). The satins last pretty long as well for a lipstick with a glossy sheen, about 3 hours without fading (more transfer happens to cups or bottles.)

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Satin Row 1: Nude Exposure, Rebel Rose, Sultry Mauve, Guilty Angel, Poison Nectar
Satin Row 2: Shameless Magenta, Graphic Grape, Pink Coquette, Coral Confession, Rogue Red
Satin Row 3: Extreme Heat, Fuchsia Fetish, Wicked Pink, Forbidden Berry, Burning Desire
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Matte Row 1: Uncensored Candy, Naturally Daring, Defiant Bloom, Sinful Cinnamon
Matte Row 2: Classified Crimson, Vampy Plum, Voodoo Spice, Pink Decoy, Ultraviolet
Matte Row 3: Evocative Petal, Wildfire, Ruby Temptress, Red Inferno, Toxic Cherry
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Here are two looks with Coral Confession (bright peachy coral satin) and Red Inferno (blue-based matte). I’m wearing the same base of makeup in both photos. I was really impressed with how the look was transformed entirely with just the lip color.

Same colors are featured in both looks above except the lip color, left photo features Coral Confession, right photo features Red Inferno:
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For swatches, to keep things simple, I split all 30 shades by color family. I had several favorites in each formula – there are lots of options to suit everyone’s personal taste. There are 15 matte colors and 15 satin shades. Up first are the pinks:

Wicked Pink (satin) is a cool toned glossy pink
Uncensored Candy (matte) is a baby pink matte
Defiant Bloom (matte) is a blue-based cool tone deep pink
Pink Coquette (satin) is the perfect glossy baby pink
Pink Decoy (matte) is a matte hot warm pink
Fuchsia Fetish (satin) is fuchsia perfection
Forbidden Berry (satin) is a deep berry red

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Next are the bold reds. Many reds turn fuchsia or bright pink on me. The ones from Buxom are true reds that don’t turn color. They are extremely saturated in color and have slightly different undertones. There’s bound to be one that will suit your preferences.

Extreme Heat (satin) is a glossy red
Wildfire (matte) is a deep orange red
Rogue Red (satin) is a glossy bright orange
Toxic Cherry (matte) is a blue-based red
Classified Crimson (matte) is the deepest red option in the lineup
Burning Desire (satin) is a true red
Red Inferno (matte) is a pink-toned red

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My favorite lipstick category, the neutrals. I love a good neutral lip and there are tons to pick from in this lineup. My lips are ultra pigmented so some of the lighter colors contrast with my natural lip tone. A lot of these are deep enough and wearable for my pigmented lips. With some of these, I found the True Nude Lip Foundation in Naked (clear) to be a lifesaver in helping smooth out my natural lip and prep it for even application.

Naturally Daring (matte) is a matte light pink beige
Guilty Angel (satin) is a light neutral-warm pink beige
Racy Reveal (matte) is a warm medium toned peachy pink
Rebel Rose (satin) is a perfect mauve rose pink
Sinful Cinnamon (matte) is a brown-nude rose
Evocative Petal (matte) is a brighter warm pink rose neutral
Nude Exposure (satin) is a light beige cream
Poison Nectar (satin) is a pink nude cream
Coral Confession (satin) is a coral peach

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Last but not least, the darker and dramatic colors. These are super bold colors that fall into the purple and plum lip color category. There’s a good mix of satin and matte finishes.

Sultry Mauve (satin) is the perfect neutral mauve
Voodoo Spice (matte) is a deep plum with reddish tones
Ruby Temptress (matte) is a bright but deep dramatic red
Ultra Violet (matte) is an electric violet lilac purple
Shameless Magenta (satin) is a super bright magenta
Graphic Grape (satin) is a bold purple
Vampy Plum (matte) is a dark vamp

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In summary, lots to love with the Buxom Big & Sexy Bold Gel Lipstick formula. I’m really impressed especially with the price tag which makes these affordable. My top five favorites: Rebel Rose, Pink Coquette, Forbidden Berry, Coral Confession, Red Inferno.

Have you tried the lip gels from Buxom yet? If so what colors? I’m so impressed with the texture of the shadows and am completely obsessed with the Customizable Eyeshadow Palette Bar. They have pre-made palettes, but I love how you can build your own. I highly recommend looking into it when you get a chance. I plan on making another one with more shades very soon.

You can find the Buxom Big and Sexy Bold Gel Lipsticks for $22 each, exclusively in store and online at Sephora.

Created in partnership with Buxom. Many thanks to Buxom for sponsoring this post.

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Le Métier de Beauté Ken Downing Paris and Full Stream Kaleidoscopes

September 22, 2015

It’s been over a year since I’ve featured anything from Le Métier de Beauté. Long-time readers know that I used to be a huge fan of the line. Their kaleidoscope kits feature some of the most beautiful colors for eyes and cheeks – over the past 5+ years I accumulated quite a few and loved them (I still do). However I found that many kits contained repeat colors and at $95+ each, I found them too pricey to end up with duplicate colors (as seen in one of my last posts on the line from 2014). Fast forward to this month and I decided to splurge on two for the Neiman Marcus Beauty Event (which ends tomorrow 9/23) – both of which seemed unique enough to justify. One is the Ken Downing Paris Eye Kaleidoscope $125 (which isn’t new, but still available for purchase) and the other is a new one called Full Stream Kaleidoscope $95.

The Le Métier de Beauté Ken Downing Paris Eye Kaleidoscope has four eyeshadows. This one is more expensive than most, priced at $125 for 0.49 oz/ 14 g. I was also really drawn to the Ken Downing London Kit, but 2 of the 4 shades seemed very warm. In my experience, Le Métier de Beauté always surprises me with how wearable the reddish/orangey shades are on the eyes, especially when layered with cooler tones, but I decided to opt for the cool version.

The four shades include a soft satiny cool pink shimmer, a warm copper metallic, a cool pale silver dove grey shimmer and a warm brown shimmer. The mix of warm and cool is pure genius, especially when the colors are layered together (although I’ve shown them swatched separately). Pigment is easy to build. The two lighter shades are sheerer in finish with a soft satiny texture while the darker ones are more metallic, more buttery in texture and more pigmented.

Close ups of each shade:

There are four new Kaleidoscopes exclusive to Neiman Marcus. The four are called Full Stream, Lift Off, Bon Voyage and All Aboard (not available online yet). Each kit has a translucent pressed powder and variations of blush, bronzer, highlighter and eyeshadow. I originally pre-ordered two, but since all have a pressed powder, I remembered my hesitation in getting duplicates and picked Full Stream.

All four photographed in store from Neiman Marcus Beverly Hills:

Full Stream has a translucent powder, one cool pink shimmery blush, a warm tan bronzer and a soft peachy shimmer eyeshadow (also works as a highlighter). The kit is very simple and basic – but it’s perfect for on-the-go and touchups. I was worried the powder would look really white on my face because swatching it showed it was really pigmented. On the face, even on my tan skin, it disappears and leaves a matte-looking finish.

Close ups of each color:

I’m happy with both of my purchases. They did make a serious dent in my wallet and although Full Stream is easily dupeable with other colors, sometimes it’s nice to have something basic that doesn’t require much effort or thought to apply. It brightens the face in a natural polished way and adds color without looking overdone. I can see this going really well with bold lips. Even though these are expensive at $95 and $125 each, if you break it down per pan, it’s about $23 to $31 per color which isn’t too bad given the product amount. Comparing it to other brands at the per gram or per ounce price, it’s reasonable. Still, if you’re like me, you probably budget beauty splurges at the bottom line total, so yes, these are still pricey. The only gripe I have about these two is the sticker at the top. I like the fun designs and they are really pretty – however the kits have a slightly rounded top and the stickers are flat so the result is a bubbled sticker that looks uneven. I had one in my purse in my makeup bag (I don’t recommend doing this) and the tops are not scratch proof. One of mine wasn’t applied on the kit evenly so the edges started to come up. It bothered me enough that I pulled the sticker off which is a shame because the designs are really cute.

In summary, I think the new kits are definitely worth looking into. You can find both the Ken Downing Paris and Full Stream Kaleidoscope exclusively in store and online at Neiman Marcus.
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On My Radar / New in Beauty

September 20, 2015

Happy Sunday everyone! I hope you’ve had a great weekend. A few things on my beauty radar right now (from top left, clockwise):

  • Chanel has a new mini launch with some new products. There are two new Joues Contraste Powder Blushes in Golden Sun and Vibration along with a new highlighter called Infiniment Chanel Illuminating Powder. I bought one blush and the highlighter – they are almost too pretty to touch. I hope to start testing soon.
  • For holiday Hourglass has launched their Ambient Lighting Edit palette. It comes with three Ambient Lighting Powders, two Ambient Lighting Blushes and one Ambient Light Bronzer. It looks phenomenal – however since I already own five of the six colors individually and in other palettes, I think this will probably be redundant to own. I use the powders I have regularly and have yet to hit pan in any of them (they last forever!).
  • I’ve been on a foundation brush kick – I’ve been testing a number of different ones in search for a cheaper alternative to my holy grail Tom Ford Cream Foundation Brush. I’ll have a roundup very soon, two of the latest I’ve tested include the MAC #196 Slanted Foundation Brush and the new Chanel #8 Two in One Fluid and Powder Brush.
  • Tatcha has a new Soothing Indigo Mini Set. It has travel sizes of the Rice Enzyme Powder, Recovery Cream, Silk Hand Cream and Body Butter. The Indigo line is really good for sensitive skin that is prone to irritation. Anytime my skin is dry, itchy or irritated, this line works wonders to soothe the skin and calms down redness. (There’s a promo code CLEAN20 to receive a complimentary travel-size Pure One Step Camellia Cleansing Oil on any order over $20. Offer expires 9/30/2015)
  • Truffle has some new products for fall. They’ve launched a new Privacy Wristlet in black and cabernet. The cabernet color also comes in their document cases, clarity clutches and privacy clutch (it’s gorgeous!).
  • Lipstick Queen has a new full pigment lipgloss called Seven Deadly Sins. There are six colors available online from Space NK. In a season filled with new lip products, formulas and colors, I do not need another lipstick or lipgloss – but somehow I’m still intrigued by these. Lust looks like the perfect berry red based on online swatches.
  • Drybar products just launched at Nordstrom.com! Both my husband and I swear by The Chaser Shine Cream. Other favorites of mine include the Mai Tai Spritzer and Hold Me Hair Clips. I’ve loved everything I’ve tried from the line.
  • YSL has launched four new Matte La Lacque Couture Nail Lacquers. I’m not a fan of the matte nail look, but  I might make an exception for the YSL formula (the glossy ones are really really good).
What’s on your beauty radar this week?

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Clarisonic Mia 3/Aria + Alpha Fit (Plus Sale Alert)

September 15, 2015

I thought it was time to do a Clarisonic update on my Aria (now called Mia 3) plus a review on the Alpha Fit device for men since all devices are on sale for two days online at Clarisonic.com. They are having a special offer where you can save 20% on all devices and get free shipping from 9/15 – 9/16/15, while supplies last, by using code FLASH20 at checkout. These tools are on the expensive side so it’s best to buy one when there’s a sale or if your store has some special points promotion.

I bought my Clarisonic Aria which is now called the Mia 3 over a year ago (original reviews here and here). There are a number of different Clarisonic devices, I picked the Aria because it came with a stand, came with three different speeds and was the sleekest looking option at the time. I still am really happy with my purchase over a year later although I’m not as disciplined in using it every other day as I used to be. These days I use it 1-2x per week. I’ve tried it with a number of different cleansers and like how versatile it is – it works with gel, cream and liquid face cleansers. My favorites include the Kate Somerville Daily Detox Cleanser, First Aid Beauty Skin Rescue Deep Cleanser and SK-II Facial Treatment Cleanser. Using the device does improve the texture, clarity and feel of the skin. It’s somewhere in between using a scrub or washcloth to exfoliate your face. No matter how gentle face scrubs are, they are usually too harsh for me. Washcloths work ok but I change them out every use to avoid bacteria growth from dirty towels – so the frequent changing and washing is a lot more extra work.

As a quick refresher from one of my previous updates, I tried four different brush heads: Normal, Sensitive, Delicate and Cashmere. When I bought my device, Clarisonic didn’t have a dedicated device designed for men (they simply had different colors). My husband wanted to try it but his skin is a lot tougher – we ordered the Normal Brush for his skin which he liked. We alternated use by switching out brush heads. My personal favorite is the Cashmere Cleanse brush head. It’s ultra soft and cleans the skin nicely with a gentle massaging motion. My husband says he has no idea how that does anything at all for my skin because it’s so soft he doesn’t see how it exfoliates at all. I’ve heard the same from other women who have tried it. Most devices come with the Sensitive Brush which is gentle enough for the skin but strong so you can feel it working. I think it’s a good starting point to see if you need something softer or more dense. It’s not a bad one – I can still use it and it doesn’t feel harsh, I simply prefer the Cashmere version.
https://thebeautylookbook.com/2014/09/clarisonic-aria-update-and-further.html
Last month Clarisonic finally released a device for men called the Alpha Fit Men’s Cleansing Device. It is on the pricey side at $189 (I ordered mine when Sephora had their bonus point event) but it is a really good device. I haven’t tested it on myself since I bought it for my husband. It comes with a completely different design. It stands up on its own, comes with a cap so you can throw it in your gym bag or travel with it, and it has a shorter handle. He’s been using it daily for a solid month now. 

The Alpha Fit is designed for men’s skin which is thicker and more oily compared to women’s. It comes with a different brush called Alpha Fit made specifically for men. In the month Andrew has been using it he’s noticed a significant improvement in his skin. It cleans out his pores and he’s found it essential in preparing his skin for shaving. It helps exfoliate and smooth the skin. In addition the motion of the sonic cleansing device helps move the facial and neck hairs by pulling them out slightly which makes for a better easier shave. It also makes his facial hair feel softer as well. I highly recommend watching the demonstration video (it’s near the bottom of the product page) – it’s what sold me on the device in seeing how versatile it is and how it’s really designed specifically for men. My husband says he’s 100% happy with it. The design of the Alpha Fit is more masculine and has a sleek look to it (he says he hates the bulky look of the other devices made for women). He likes that it stands up on its own so he can put it on the counter or have it in the shower. It fits easily into his hand and the way it’s designed makes it easy to use.
On cleansers, he used up the Alpha Cleanse Men’s Facial Cleanser that came with the device. I asked if he wanted me to buy a replacement – for now he said he’s set on staying with his usual go-to cleanser which is the Kiehl’s Facial Fuel Energizing Face Wash.

Overall, I think the Clarisonic Aria has been a game changer for me. It does take time to see results but over time it improves the texture and clarity of the skin. Does it really get a better clean compared to hands or a washcloth? I think absolutely yes. I didn’t experience any purging when I started to use it. If you look at online reviews you might see some others experienced break outs – I suspect it might have been a reaction to the Clarisonic cleansers rather than the device itself. I have tested a few mini tubes of the cleansers but prefer other brands.

For my husband, the Clarisonic Alpha Fit has been a huge help in cleaning his pores and helping clean/prep the skin for shaving. For most of his life he has been an electric-shaver kind of guy because using regular razors has always resulted in razor burn or cuts. In the past month he’s been doing a lot more research and experimenting with shave creams, oils, blades and finally has managed to get a technique down where he has zero razor burn, cuts or ingrown hairs from using a traditional razor. The Clarisonic has been life changing for him in helping prepare the skin for a better shave.

I hope you found this review helpful if you’re in the market for a Clarisonic whether you’re looking to splurge on your first device, looking to upgrade an older one or if you’re shopping for something for the man in your life. I’ve seriously considered buying one for my brother and brother-in-law for Christmas (even though it’s months away). These are definitely splurges but I think worth every penny.
You can find Clarisonic at Nordstrom, Sephora, Bloomingdale’s, Macy’s, Ulta and Clarisonic.com. For two days only, September 15-16th, you can save 20% on all devices on Clarisonic.com with code FLASH20 at checkout.
Have you tried or do you own a Clarisonic? If yes, which one?
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