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Guerlain Spring 2011 Picks: Série Noire Blush G, Rouge G & Ombré Éclat

January 10, 2011

I’m venturing into newer territory with Guerlain this spring. I haven’t tried much from the line except a few seasonal items here and there over the past years. I’ve loved everything I have (quads, singles, rouge g) but for some reason still find their high prices and glitzy packaging a bit intimidating at times. However take the Twitter buzz and excitement from @naturalNchicmak and @CafeMakeup and combine it with the beautiful swatches from Yuki’s Lazy Channel and the cause-effect outcome is that I had to check it out.

Série Noire Blush G, Rose Desir Rouge G, Ombré Éclat in L’instant D’une Ondee 186 & L’instant D’une Soupir 187

The most highly-anticipated item of this collection is the new Blush G, Série Noire ($67), which is labeled on the compact as the “Secret to a Healthy Glow.” It is indeed glowy with four layers of embossed shimmers. NaturalNChicMakeup has lovely swatches on her blog as well and really captures the shimmers in great detail (see her review here). She also has a great feature on the packaging.

So does it really give a healthy glow? Yes, but it’s almost too glowy. When all shades are swirled together it creates a vibrant golden-pink blush but at the same time it applies cool on my cheeks (even if it swatches warm on my arm). To me, this is like a cool-pink version of NARS Orgasm blush. It also applies similar in the sense that it’s very easy to go one swipe too heavy and end up looking sunburned. The pigment is a difficult thing to describe – the texture is finely milled and very soft which allows you to build up layers to suit your preference. I had a difficult time playing with it today, it either looked too sheer or too fake. I have a similar experience with Chanel Fresque which is a lovely light peach, but one stroke too many leaves me looking like a clown.

I personally prefer something a tad bit warmer on the skin like Bobbi Brown’s Antigua Illuminating Shimmer Powder, but the Guerlain Série Noire is unique and beautiful. I will simply need more practice and experiment with different blush brushes to see which one will give the best application.

All the lipsticks from the Guerlain Spring Collection are beautiful. Due to the high price tag, I decided to limit myself to just one, Rose Desir #71 ($47). It’s very sparkly on the back of the hand, but on the lips it sheers out and you get a healthy pink tint. Those concerned that these might be too sheer to show up need not worry. They definitely show up! They just have a glossy shine with has a soft texture. I couldn’t detect a scent and it feels nice on the lips. The packaging this spring is still the metal mirrored tube but this season’s color is black. I like it much better than the silver ones which tarnish easily.


The last items I wanted to feature include two of the new eyeshadow singles, Ombré Éclat in L’instant D’une Ondee 186 & L’instant D’une Soupir 187 ($36 each).


I’ve found the Guerlain single shadows to be hit and miss. Some are simply too sheer, but the ones that do have a good soft texture show up better. #186 is a cool dove-grey with very subtle shimmer. #187 is a high frost bronzey taupe.

Overall thoughts: This collection has the most beautiful packaging this season. My interest in Guerlain is growing as I start to explore their primers and foundations. Still the high price tag prevents me from putting this brand at the top of my list of things to check out. I personally have avoided the Guerlain counter (like the Cle de Peau counter) simply because I find the price points intimidating, but easy to justify with an eager sales associate there to help push you along. Still, the quality is excellent and formula/textures beautiful. The packaging is a true work of art down to the little details of the embossed powders and clever mirrored lipstick.
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Dior Vernis Gris City Collection Review Part 2: Details & Comparisons

January 6, 2011

Here is Part 2 featuring a more detailed review of the Dior Gris City Collection. Up first is Gris Montaigne. As mentioned in my Dior Spring feature, I don’t have many cream finish grey colors. The formula is on par with RBL in the sense that you get full smooth application with 2 coats. The color is similar to RBL Stormy, only the Dior is slightly darker and more neutral (RBL’s stormy is cooler in undertone). The NARS and Butter London have sheerer formulas and require three coats for full coverage for me.

L to R: Rescue Beauty Lounge Stormy, Dior Gris Montaigne, Dior Silver Pearl, Butter London Chimney Sweep and NARS Full Metal Jacket


Bond Street is a beautiful deep blue. Compared to the other shades below you can see that it does seem to have a unique undertone that prevents it from being a straight navy or pure teal. I love it. I find that it’s closest to Rescue Beauty Lounge Teal in depth/darkness, but the color is different since Bond Street is not really teal. Note how interesting it is that the MAC Blue India looks darker in the bottle but on the nails is significantly lighter than the other blues. All shades here featured with 2 coats.

L to R: Chanel Blue Satin, Dior Bond Street, MAC Blue India, Rescue Beauty Lounge Teal, Rescue Beauty Lounge Under the Stars


Finally, below you will see why I described Dior NY57th as a true gunmetal. Compared to other steely blacks and greys, Dior NY57th is one of those deeper silvery gunmetals that really shows up as a “gunmetal” on the nails. It’s nice to add to your collection if you want a dark shade but don’t want something too dark. You can see the contrast to the bottle photos to what you get on the nails. NY57th is lighter than Chanel Steel but darker than NARS Full Metal Jacket. If you think Essie Over the Top is a dupe, the Essie required 5 coats for the same coverage that Dior got with only 2. Also the Essie has more visible silver shimmers in real life.

L to R: NARS Full Metal Jacket, Dior NY57th, Dior Black Sequins, Chanel Steel, Essie Over the Top


Overall I’m very pleased with these colors. Looking at other web photos and blogs were extremely helpful but I still wasn’t sure that these were must-haves. As I discussed with a few blogger friends, I wasn’t convinced that spending $68 (included tax) on three colors I might have dupes for would be justified. But my curiosity got the better of me. If you’re a Chanel or Dior collector, definitely get these while they are available. They are listed as Limited Edition but I am not sure how limited they really are. If you already have a lot of similar shades you definitely won’t find these to be must-haves. However, do note the undertones may be different than your current stash. I really like the formula and hope Dior continues to release more!
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Dior Vernis Gris City Collection: Gris Montaigne, Bond Street & NY57th

January 6, 2011


The Dior Vernis Gris City Collection has finally been released on Dior.com. Each shade was inspired by the three greatest fashion capitals in the world, Paris, London and New York. As far as I know the Gris City Collection has been released in very limited supply. In the US, the Dior Gris City colors are exclusive to the NY boutique and Dior.com. They were released in NY for the Dior Boutique re-opening, but I did have several women tell me they were unable to place phone orders. They were told the colors were reserved for sale only for those who attended the event. However, one told me she was persistent and was able to find a sales associate who did a phone-order. I haven’t tried myself. Check out this link here on Chic Profile for additional availability information.

The limited edition collection contains the following shades (L to R in photo directly above and below):

  • Gris Montaigne – inspired by the color theme of the Dior Boutique on Avenue Montaigne in Paris (also part of the Spring 2011 collection, reviewed here)
  • Bond Street – inspired by the chic & urban style of London
  • NY57th – designed for the grand re-opening of the New York Dior Boutique on 57th Street

The nail colors by Dior have been revamped in a strengthening formula. I haven’t tried them long enough to notice a difference in the hardness of my nails, but I am impressed with the formulas of these shades. They do require two coats, but the application is flawless, smooth and fast drying. I’m not usually a fan of revamps, but I like the direction Dior is going with their product innovations and newer formulas.


Many have asked me what I think about the new tapered brush. Two different manicurists I go to did not like the brush. They applied it with the skinny side on the nail, instead of flat and wide. I’ve tried application on my own now about 6 times and I am slowly getting used to it, however, I find the pointy tip makes it a bit challenging to get the color even along the cuticles. It’s perfect for my pinky because it just happens to be the same size as my little finger. For the others it definitely takes practice.

I’m going to split my review up into two parts. Part 1 will feature the Dior Gris City Nail Polishes. Part 2 will feature comparisons. I felt like putting everything into one single post would be overwhelming for you.

I featured Gris Montaigne a few days ago (here) but here are a few more photos. I really love this color, it’s a perfect straight neutral gray.


Bond Street is a deep blue with the slightest hint of teal. It’s not so dark that it looks navy, but it’s close to navy. It’s cream-finish perfection. You’ll see it compared to RBL Teal, Chanel Blue Satin and a few others in Part 2 (coming soon).




NY57th is a steel gunmetal frost with silver pearl. Even though it’s a frost, the brush strokes aren’t too visible which is definitely a plus. Not quite silver and not quite black. This is a true gunmetal color.




Each color retails for $21 each and are listed as limited edition. I bought mine on Dior.com in the US. Gris Montaigne is part of the Spring 2011 collection and I found that color at Nordstrom instore. Are these must haves? Are there dupes? Wait for my Part 2 to see, it will be up very soon so check back around 10:00 am PST.

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Loving Right Now

January 5, 2011

In the new year, I’m currently loving right now . . .

Customer appreciation, more on this to come soon!

Chanel Regard Perlé for Spring 2011, reviewed here

Chanel Rouge Fatal Le Vernis, also shown here

Plum accents

Small Pottery Barn pill box (sold out online, but check your local stores)

Another cure for down days, giggles from the If You Give a Mouse a Cookie children’s book series

My real cure for everything, puppy love from Lucy

I’m loving nail polish in general, but especially the Dior Gris City Limited Edition Colors in Gris Montaigne, Bond Street and NY57th (review to come soon)

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A Closer Look at Edward Bess Blush Allure, Demi Buff & Rose Demure Lipsticks

January 3, 2011
It seems there has been much excitement about the new lip items from Edward Bess even if thoughts about the new packaging have been mixed. My first review was completed about a month ago linked here New Lip Items from Edward Bess. Other reviews, swatches and details of these new colors have been posted by other great bloggers:

Café Makeup – Edward Bess, New Lipsticks & Glosses (Swatches)
Best Things in Beauty – Edward Bess Ultra Slick Lipstick . . .
Blogdorf Goodman – Bess is More

As far as I know, each of these lipsticks are available individually for $32 each but were also part of a trio with all three for $75 during Bergdorf Goodman’s last gift card event. Here is a closer look at the new lipsticks in Blush Allure, Demi Buff & Rose Demure.

After testing these for a few weeks, the formula and texture seem to be the same even though the packaging is different. I find that the fig scent is more subtle, but everything else seems to be the same great consistency, coverage and finish as the lipsticks in the older packaging. The new ones are embossed with Edward’s initials (as seen below).


Blush Allure is a pale nude pink. I find it similar in lightness to YSL’s Rouge Volupte #1. The difference is slight, but Blush Allure is slightly darker and the YSL is slightly cooler toned. You can see below it has full creamy coverage, but on me it’s too light and mod-like on my lips. This color is lovely once blotted down and topped with gloss. This will be one of my higher-maintenance nudes. If you can pull off light pinks like MAC Angel, MAC Hue, MAC Faux, YSL Rouge Volupte #1 then you will love Edward Bess’s Blush Allure Lipstick.

Demi Buff is a brown-nude-pink. It leans more brownish on me although you can see bits of pink in it. It’s not as dark on my lips as Bobbi Brown’s Brownie Pink Lipstick but it is similar (see all the way down at the bottom). Compared to BB, the EB lipsticks are creamier and smoother. Bobbi Brown’s are full coverage but slightly more matte with a drier texture, still creamy in my opinion, but without the sheen.

Rose Demure is a pretty cool pink with a tinge of mauve. This is an odd-ball shade. When I put this on last week it turned blueish and almost fuschia. I was sad and thought this would be a shade I’d have to gift away. However, I tried it again this week and it went on a beautiful cool mauve-pink but without the fuschia/blueish cast. I am glad I gave this one a second chance, however I have a feeling this will be a color I cannot pull off every day. My lip color changes from day to day – sometimes they are really pink, other days they look really pale.

These new shades are beautiful neutrals that lean more towards the cool side of the color spectrum. There are a number of similar nude pinks out there – those who have explored those lighter neutrals know it can be hard to find the right one for your skintone. Too pale and you look like a corpse. Too brown and it goes on dark. Blush Allure, Demi Buff & Rose Demure Lipsticks are definitely worth checking out if you can get to a counter (Neimans at Beverly Hills and Houston or Bergdorf Goodman in NY). These have a beautiful and unique undertone that works with one’s natural skintone. That being said, my heart still belongs to a few of his other shades like Forbidden Flower, Pure Impulse and Forever Yours (all previously reviewed within the last year).

Here are the new Edward Bess lipsticks compared to a few other shades. Take note of four things:
1) In the tube they look strikingly similar, my camera isn’t always so great at capturing the differences
2) Swatched on the arm you can see the difference better (only slightly)
3) On the lips, each of these will look different based on how nude-like shades will react with the natural pigment in your lips. For example, Bobbi Brown Brownie Pink and Edward Bess Demi Buff look similar in the tube and on the arm, but on the lips, I get a straight brown with a slight hint of pink with the BB, while the EB shows more pink on me.
4) While these photos may appear to present dupes on your computer screen, I do not think any of these are dupes.

L to R: Bobbi Brown Blush, Bobbi Brown Blondie Pink, Bobbi Brown Brownie Pink, Edward Bess Rose Demure, Edward Bess Demi Buff, Edward Bess Blush Allure, YSL Rouge Volupte 1, YSL Rouge Volupte 23, Tom Ford Pink Dusk (Chanel Ming added in swatches only)




Have any Edward Bess fans tried the new lipsticks? How do you like them?

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Dior Gris-Gris 034 Quint & Gris Montaigne 707 Nail Lacquer for Spring 2011

January 2, 2011


I spotted Dior’s Spring 2011 collection at Nordstrom but the tester unit seemed to be missing a few things from the previews we’ve been seeing (see magazine scan here). I wasn’t sure if they simply filled in the slots with pre-existing items temporarily or if the US really wasn’t getting all the items we’ve been seeing. The usual Dior rep was off at the time I was there, so I couldn’t verify with her. Some of the items may be Sephora exclusives. I ended up with Gris-Gris 034 Couture Colour Eyeshadow Palette and Gris Montaigne 707 Nail Lacquer – which also happens to be one of the shades from the Gris City nail polish trio.

Gris-Gris 034 is a palette of cool grey, silver, charcoal and sky blue. Using all 5 shades on the eye at one time is not practical for me – the colors are too cool-toned for my skin. I find that the best way to use this is to use 3 shades at the most from this palette and applying the paler shades with a light hand, using a dark grey or black liner smudged, then applying the middle dark charcoal shade on top blending for a smokey eye.

The colors on the outer corners have a high-frost finish when applied with a heavy hand, but blend out to a pretty soft frosty glow. Applied with a softer hand you get a nice dusting of sparkle. The middle shade is a matte dark greyish-black with the prettiest multi-colored micro sparkles. It twinkles when the slightest bit of light hits it. It’s borderline too cool for my skin, it needs a bit of tweaking with something warm like a light dusting of bronzer to make it work better for me.

Gris-Gris unique in the sense that the formula and finish of Dior Quints are hard to match from any other brand. I don’t know of a similar palette that has all 5 shades in one compact. However, the silvery shades have definitely been done before – but in separate palettes, brands and singles. For your reference, here is Dior Gris-Gris compared to other Dior Quints such as Moonlight, Smoky Crystal and Sky Glow. Below it is also compared to Chanel single eyeshadows in Platine, Silvery and Black Star. While the Gris-Gris shades aren’t identical to any of the other colors, you can see quite a few similarities in other eyeshadows.




For the nails, there was a cream pink and a cream grey shade in the tester unit. I picked Gris Montaigne 707. This comes with the same new chiseled/tapered brush that came with the Holiday Nail Lacquers (see here). I find the metallic Dior nail polishes to be a hit or miss, but this non-shimmer formula has me really impressed! You do need 2 thin coats, but the result is a smooth and glossy and the formula is non-goopy. It also seems to dry faster than most nail polishes I’ve tried. A big thumbs up for me.

Two coats, no base or top coat:

I went through my nail polish stash and didn’t find many non-shimmery greys. The only one I have is RBL Stormy (which you can see is lighter than Gris Montaigne). Here is the Dior compared to other silvery greyish colors.



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