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Dior Holiday 2016 Splendor Color Collection

October 10, 2016
Dior Holiday 2016 Splendor Color Collection - The Beauty Look Book

This year’s first look at holiday beauty highlights the Dior Splendor Color Collection and everything is simply stunning. I received pieces to play with a few weeks ago and have been dying to share the review with you. All items far exceeded my expectations although for me the best items are the two 5 Couleurs Splendor Eyeshadow palettes. They come with the most beautiful embossed sequins-like texture on the surface and every single color works for me in both palette (which is rare). I still have yet to see photos of all the holiday launches coming out this year, but out of the ones I have seen, this is the one I’m the most excited about.

In the collection for the US:

Up first are the eye shadows. The two 5 Couleurs Splendor Eyehadow Palettes which have beautiful shimmer shades. Smoky Sequins is the cooler toned version with greys and whites for a more traditional smokey eye and Precious Embroidery is more on the warmer plum side but still pulls neutral on my skin. The colors have a soft texture that melds in with the skin. They are easy to blend, easy to layer and stay put with medium pigment. If you use a damp brush it will intensify the pigment and shimmer.

Dior Holiday 2016 Splendor Color Collection - The Beauty Look Book

Dior Holiday 2016 Splendor Color Collection - The Beauty Look Book

I did a quick look with Smokey Sequins. It’s cool-toned but still easy to wear on my olive skin:

Diorshow Fusion Mono Eyeshadow in Infinity is a gold/bronze/taupe lovers dream come true. It has the perfect mix of gold, taupe, silver, bronze all in one for the all over shade you can wear alone on simple days to add a bit of color to the eyes. 
Dior Holiday 2016 Splendor Color Collection - Infinity

Next up are the Diorific Matte Velvet Color Lip and Cheek Fluids. I have not tried these on the cheeks as the texture and consistency seem best suited for the lips (at least on me). Pleasure 001 is a warm pink, Marvel 002 is a fuschia pink, Treasure 003 is a mauve lilac and Luxury 004 is a classic bright red. These have a unique formula which is best worn when layered. One swipe will give you a stain. I recommend applying in a couple layers and you’ll see full coverage on the lips. They dry to a matte finish but do not look or feel dry which I really liked. Once on the lips the staying power is excellent. They do have a soft scent like a makeup kind of scent but it’s not overpowering. They come in a stunning ornament-like bottle with a sponge applicator.

Dior Holiday 2016 Splendor Color Collection - Diorific Matte Fluid

Dior Holiday 2016 Splendor Color Collection - Diorific Matte Fluid Swatches

Dior Holiday 2016 Splendor Color Collection - Diorific Matte Fluid
Top by Joie

There are five Diorific lipsticks launching in the US for holiday. If you see press releases online you may see other shades, but I believe they are the colors Europe and Asia received. I have one of the Diorific Lipsticks in Golden and four of the Diorific Mat Lipsticks to share (the one I’m missing is the red matte). Formula is full coverage, smooth and flawless. The mattes have a soft weightless texture that’s almost airy like on the lips. They are scented with the regular Dior lipstick scent. The holiday ones come in special edition gold packaging. The mattes do have a soft very subtle luminous sheen. Note the flash on my camera makes them look a bit more glowy than they do in real life.

Dior Holiday 2016 Splendor Color Collection - Diorific Matte Lipsticks

Golden is a shimmering metallic gold. Ravissement is a medium bright pink. Charm is a peachy coral. Fascination is a classic plum.

Dior Holiday 2016 Splendor Color Collection - Diorific Matte Lipsticks

Dior Holiday 2016 Splendor Color Collection - Diorific Matte Lipstick Swatches

The Diorskin Nude Air Luminizer is repromoted for the US so if you bought it for fall you can shop your stash for the cheeks. I still think this is one of the prettiest most natural highlighters I’ve tried. Even though I have enough highlighters to last probably 100 lifetimes I think it’s a must. I’ve re-posted the photos from the Fall Collection review.

Dior Nudeskin Air Luminizer Powder

Dior Nudeskin Air Luminizer Powder swatch

Last but not least are the Diorific Vernis nail polishes. Dior makes some of the best polishes formula-wise. They have the best brush out of all the ones I own and the formula is glossy with rich smooth coverage. By now I’ve bought almost all the colors because they always work really well. For holiday they’ve brought back the little bauble style packaging. I believe some may be similar (or even repromotes) from previous years. My favorite is the red Splendor and the glitter Nova. I rarely find that I like glitters because they look chunky or are simply to glitzy for everyday wear. Nova is one I think is subtle enough to wear. It looks pretty layered over other shades too. Swatches below with two coats.

Dior Holiday 2016 Splendor Diorific Vernis Nail Colors

Nova is a like a party in a bottle with white crystal looking sparkles. Golden is a neutral warm metallic gold. Splendor is a perfect holiday red. Cosmic is a deep vamp purple with tiny gold flecks.

Dior Holiday 2016 Splendor Diorific Vernis Nail Colors
Dior is also bringing another GWP option for Beauty Look Book readers for a complimentary Rouge Dior Matte deluxe mini and J’adore Eau Lumiere deluxe mini with a $100 purchase at Dior.com. Valid 10/10-10/21 while supplies last with code BLBHoliday at checkout. Note that all $100 orders already receive a deluxe sized sample plus two minis so the code will get you extra goodies. 

Bottom line I love everything. Favorites for me are the eye products (palettes and single) and the repromoted
highlighter. I’m not a huge matte lip fan but the lip and cheek fluids
are really unique and the packaging is just so pretty I can’t help but
also fall in love with those. If you’re one who likes color for the lips there are lots of shades to choose from that are what I’d call modern classics. They’re wearable for right now and for the upcoming holiday season whether you like the traditional festive red or other brighter shades.

You can find everything now at Dior counters and online at Dior.com. If you’ve picked up anything from the collection already let me know what you thought!

Holiday collection provided courtesy of Dior for review.
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MAC Selena Collection

October 1, 2016

Today MAC launches the Selena Collection as a tribute to Mexican-American singer Selena Quintanilla. The collection has been curated by her sister and items are available online at MAC Cosmetics starting October 1st and will be available in stores starting October 6th. If you are a MAC Select Member you may have already been able to shop the items early. I received a few pieces as press samples for review which I have thoughts and swatches to share today.

Swatches:

Up first are the eye products. I received two in Fotos Y Recuerdos a soft warm satin pink and Selena a stunning violet ($17 each). Both are shades I wouldn’t normally wear but I have been experimenting with purples by layering it with other neutrals. Both are sheer to medium in coverage with a soft sheen.

In addition there is a repromoted Liquid Liner ($21) in Black Boot. I’m not a liquid liner expert. I would actually call myself liquid liner challenged. I’ve pretty much stuck with the same brands for a few years (roundup + comparisons from a couple years ago here). I would say for me the easiest ones for me to use are the Tom Ford Eye Defining Liquid Liner Pen and the Club Clio Waterproof Pen Liner (also shown here). Back to the MAC liner – the tip is short and stiff and after trying it a few times I found it challenging to get an even line without having it bleed. It’s possible I’m applying too much or need to change the application method (I tried feathering and also dabbing). If you know how to use this let me know, I would greatly appreciate tips.

Two of the three lipsticks are shown below in Dreaming of You (Matte) and Como La Flor (Amplified) $18 each. Dreaming of You is a deep matte red. Como La Flor is a striking creamy red with a slight sheen. Both are smooth and full coverage.

Last but not least is the Powder Blush in Techno Cumbia ($29). I’m one of the biggest suckers for MAC cheek products and I think I’ve collected almost all the Mineralize Skinfinishes (shimmer ones) to date. This one has no shimmer and has a brown portion on the top and soft pink brown on the bottom. I have mixed feelings about this one because of the color. Texture is smooth and applies well with a blush or duo fiber brush. Pigment is pretty rich. On the arm it applied patchy but for the face it goes on smooth without issues for me. The color is fairly dark on my skin making it almost too deep and almost muddy looking as a regular blush. For me it works better as a very soft contour almost bronzer color. I suspect if you have tan to deeper skintone this will match your skintone more to actually look more like a natural blush. I’m a NC35 or NC37 in the MAC Studio Fix Fluid Foundation and a 3.0 in Matchmaster and this is too dark to wear as a blush.

Overall a fun collection and I am happy to have tried a few pieces. I would have liked to try the neutrals as that’s what I wear everyday – there are a few neutral eyeshadows, a neutral lipstick and a sparkly lipglass. I’m going to try and track them down. Collection is available online at MAC Cosmetics starting October 1st and will be available in stores starting October 6th.

Do you have your eye on anything from the MAC Selena collection?

MAC Selena items featured sent as press samples for review.
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On My Radar / New in Beauty

September 26, 2016

1  /  2  /  3  /  4  /  5  /  6  /
7  /  8  /  9  /  10  /  11  /  12
Hope you all had a great weekend! Just when I started to get in the fall state of mind the weather decided to take a turn after a week of clouds and rain. We had a bit of a heat wave over the weekend and this week’s forecast looks like it’s going to be hot all week. Even though it’s going to feel like summer this week, fall is in full swing with pumpkin-flavored drinks and treats everywhere I look. Holiday collections and sets are starting to trickle in and it’s not even October yet but it’s fun to see what’s coming out in the next few weeks.

First, Bobbi Brown has some lovely sets and gifts for holiday. This faux-patent leather Beauty Case (1) just popped up and it appears to be the same size as the black leather one I’ve had for years. Many of you asked me to let you know if I ever saw something similar from her line pop up. It appears this season there is! Bobbi Brown also has some beautiful cases that house multiple products. The Golden Eye Shadow and Mascara Palette (2) looks like it could be clutch-sized. As does this Glow to Go Duo (3).

I’ve been looking for a new leather jacket. Many of you were kind to recommend some for petite frames on Instagram. I’ve checked out some from All Saints, Joie and Club Monaco which are all gorgeous but I’m still trying to find the one. I have my eye on this Motorcycle Jacket (4) from Madewell which also comes recommended from a number of you. The search continues and I’ll let you know which one ends up working out 🙂

Chanel launched an online preview of their Collection Libre 2016. It’s scheduled to launch in stores late October. I’m not sure if this is their holiday collection or if a separate launch will follow. The only items that are calling my name are the nail polishes. There are two Le Vernis shades in Liquid Mirror and Hyperrose Glass (5) and one Velvet Nail Color in Pink Rubber (6).

Armani launched a travel size of their Crema Nuda Tinted Cream (7) in a smaller version with a pump. Thanks to the recommendation from another beauty lover, I decided to check it out and I’m glad I did. My local counter gave me a small sample to try at home and I have never been so impressed or blown away by a foundation before. I’m Shade #3 for reference.

Armani also launched a new lip treatment product called Him and Her Lip Care (8). There is one clear shade and four tinted options. I picked up three to test out and will let you know the verdict. It’s been a while since I ventured to the Armani counter and these caught my eye. If you’ve tried them already let me know what you think. The colors are very sheer.

Kevyn Aucoin and Space NK have an exclusive set called The Making Eyes Set (9). They kindly sent one for me to try and I’ll be reviewing it tomorrow. This is the first time I’ve tried Kevyn Aucoin powder shadows even though they have been widely raved about for like forever. Apparently I’ve been missing out for many years because the quality is excellent.

Jo Malone launched their Basil and Neroli Cologne (10). It’s a stunning green, basil, pepper mixed with floral and a bit of musk. I adore the Candle which I purchased and have been burning this past weekend. The perfume smells fresh, modern and very pretty. It’s on my wishlist.

Oribe finally launched a dry shampoo called the Gold Lust Dry Shampoo (11). I ordered the small travel size and it’s good. If you’re a dry shampoo lover I think you should try it. There is no white film or cast, it smells amazing and absorbs excess oil for a quick touch up.

Last but not least this year’s holiday Guerlain Météorites Perles de Légende Light-Revealing Pearls of Powder (12) looks stunning. I cannot resist. It was in my online shopping cart and I’m about to hit submit. They usually sell out every year fast so if you have this on your wishlist I suggest you act soon.

P.S. There are some individual GWPs up at Nordstrom (I think it was for Triple Points) and also at Saks Fifth Avenue (for beauty week) right now. I took advantage of a few including the Armani one from Saks and Jo Malone one from Nordstrom. Be sure to check for codes listed on each GWP option, sometimes there are codes you need to enter. 

Hope you have a great start to the week! Stay tuned for the Kevyn Aucoin review tomorrow and some more fragrance reviews in the following days. 
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Edward Bess Ultra Slick Lipstick

September 16, 2016

Edward Bess’s Ultra Slick Lipstick ($35 each for 13 oz/3.6g, made in USA) have been a long-time favorite. The first one I bought was Pure Impulse which today still is my holy grail pinky nude. Over the years some shades have come and gone, a few new ones have been added but Pure Impulse is one of the originals that stayed. I ordered mine sight unseen many years ago and couldn’t be happier I discovered his line from a photograph in a Bergdorf Goodman catalog. At that time it was the only store that carried is makeup and had I not seen it, I might have just missed out. Today you can find his line at a few more stores. I’d recommend visiting his website edwardbess.com to stay updated on the latest store openings. For online I usually buy his products from Neiman Marcus or Bergdorf Goodman (both owned by the same parent company). Products are also available at Net-a-Porter. If you’re in Paris, Colette carries his products in store.
A quick peek at the counter in Bergdorf Goodman:

The Edward Bess Ultra Slick Lipstick is a medium to full coverage fig-scented lipstick. All his shades are creams, as of today there are 13 total. I find there to be a good range from light to deep, from natural to bright so there’s bound to be at least one you will like. I have stuck with a few classic neutrals for years such as Pure Impulse, Tender Love, Demi Buff and Night Romance. Edward has been kind to send some over the years and he has a keen eye for matching color to skintones. If you are ever able to meet him in person I highly recommend you do so. It will be a memorable experience!

As many of you may not have immediate in person access to his product I ordered all of his shades to swatch and review for you as a reference. Having played with the line in person on numerous occasions I knew that most of the colors are colors I would wear anyways and his lipstick is so so good I think everyone should own at least one. If I were forced to wear one brand of lipstick the rest of my life it would be Edward Bess’s and you can quote me on that.

Texture-wise these are creamy and feel very comforting on the lips. I usually wear them alone without a lipliner although Natural Lip Definer is a classic that works with most of the neutral lipsticks I own, not just in his line but in other brands too. You can find it swatched and compared to a ton of other lipliners here. They are fig scented but it’s the best kind, not too sweet and not fake. Lasting power is good as long as you don’t eat or snack. Coverage is medium to full.

Onto the colors:

Colors as I see them described below. All are creams so there’s no shimmer. The finish has a slightly glossy sheen but I’d say they are more satiny and creamy. They feel amazing on the lips and are among the few that don’t make my lips peel by the next day.
  • Nude Lotus is a true light pale flesh nude, this is too pale for me to wear alone but it looks amazing layered over brighter corals like Island Blossom
  • Naked Blossom is a peachy light nude neutral
  • Pure Impulse is my perfect neutral nude
  • Island Blossom is the prettiest coral peach that’s bright but not garish
  • Deep Lust is a classic mahogany brown, looks good on everyone I’ve seen it on!
  • Midnight Bloom is a classic red
  • Desert Escape is a neutral medium pink brown (the original one used to be more brown)
  • Rose Demure is a cool-toned rose mauve
  • Demi Buff is a pinky neutral with a hint of brown
  • Tender Love is a medium rose
  • Night Romance is a classic raspberry shade (this is my mom’s favorite and the only other lipstick she’ll wear is by Estee Lauder so for her to like one this is a big deal)
  • Blushed Orchid is a cool-toned baby pink
  • Endless Dream is the best bright pink I’ve ever tried, bright but still refined

Swatched on bare lips:

One last look:

The Bergdorf Goodman Rewarding Beauty Event is happening now through the 18th online and in stores. If you’re interested in other Edward Bess products you can click on the tag at the bottom of this post to see previous reviews. I’ll link a few below:

Black Sea Hair Hero (the most fun review I’ve ever done)
Daydream Bronzer (in my Summer Bronzer Edit)

Bottom line a winner in all aspects: color selection, texture, packaging (classic!), scent and lasting power. If you’re new and want to know where I think you should start for the Bergdorf Goodman Rewarding Beauty Event, I’d say:
  1. Pick one lipstick color
  2. Daydream Ultra Luminous Bronzer is my holy grail bronzer, it’s not orangey, isn’t frosty and gives life to the face
  3. All Over Seduction is my holy grail cream highlighter, I like Afterglow because it has more color on my skin, but Sunlight is also very good
  4. His Retractable Buff and Blend Brush is really good and super soft
  5. If you like neutral-ish kinds of lips, Natural Lip Definer will go with a lot of colors
As you can tell I’m a true Edward Bess fan. His products have never let me down and I love that in a beauty world that is constantly pumping out new innovations that he’s kept a very well-edited line of classic staples that will help you look like you but make you feel like a more polished version of yourself without changing a lot.

You can find Edward Bess at Neiman Marcus, Bergdorf Goodman, Net-a-Porter, or online at Edward Bess.

Pure Impulse, Demi Buff, Endless Dream, Tender Love, Island Blossom, Rose Demure, Naked Blossom gifted by Edward. All other shades purchased by me. 
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Bergdorf Goodman Rewarding Beauty Event 9/15 to 9/18

September 15, 2016
There’s a promotion happening now at Bergdorf Goodman called the Rewarding Beauty Event. It’s available in store and online where you receive savings off purchases in three tiers. If you’re shopping online use code BEAUTY at checkout (now through 9/18), savings are as follows:
  • Receive $25 off purchases $250+
  • Receive $75 off purchases $500+
  • Receive $200 off purchases $1,000+
I’ve teamed up with Bergdorfs to share a roundup of items I consider splurge-worthy in skincare, face basics and makeup. Many of these are tried and true staples but a few are newly launched items.

Up first are a few base favorites. I’m still in the process of testing foundation and frequently rotate product. For setting powders I prefer pressed because it’s less messy and just easier for me to use in general. Two holy grail setting powders for me are the Charlotte Tilbury Airbrush Flawless Finish Powder (I use #2) and Armani Luminous Silk Compact (I use #4). Both work well to set foundation, they’re great for touchups, they add just the right amount of coverage to smooth the skin without getting cakey or darkening.

For concealer, I’ve tried a number and have quite a few favorites, but if I were pressed to pick just one for the rest of my life it would be Cle de Peau Beaute Concealer. There is a reason why this one has reached cult status. It nearly killed me to spend this much the first round, but it lasts forever, a little goes a long way, and coverage is perfect. At my lightest I used to use Beige. About a year ago they added a few more shades so I found Almond to be a good match. Right now that I’m tan Ochre is best for me. I’ll repost swatches of all the shades that I did a year ago.

For the face two of the most unique luminous cheek products include the Marc Jacobs Beauty Air Blush (reviewed here) and Edward Bess Threads of Silk Powders (reviewed here). I’ve reviewed both in detail and will include swatches below for reference. The Marc Jacobs Air Blush melds beautifully with the skin and gives a natural glow of color. The Edward Bess Threads of Silk Powders are just the prettiest powders I’ve ever seen. They’ll add shimmer without being frosted.

Marc Jacobs Air Blush:


Edward Bess Threads of Silk:

For lips plums and mauves are always what I’m in the mood for during the summer to fall transition. Left to right are:

For eyes, two staples are the Tom Ford Cream Color for Eyes, favorites include Pink Haze and Platinum. I already own the original Pink Haze from a while ago that was in a larger pot. When I saw this one pop up online I did not realize I already owned it until my order arrived. It’s a pretty pink color you can use as a wash without getting a pink eye look. If you need something more neutral Platinum is my favorite base shade. If you remember when Tom Ford launched new quads during the spring, Honeymoon sold out and was gone for months. It’s now back and has the perfect mix of warm shimmery colors for fall.

Next up are skincare splurges and staples. I really don’t like spending a lot on skincare but sometimes one just has to. The best affordable line for me is Kate Somerville. I could do an entire dedicated post on the items I use and love from her line, but for now three things I swear by include:

  • Gentle Daily Wash which is the best daily cleanser for me that won’t strip the skin
  • Dry Skin Saver (formerly known as her Eczema Cream) is something you can use on face and body and really does work to calm flare ups, soothe skin, moisturize and for me it reduces redness from irritation, when my skin gets irritated on the legs or arms sometimes it feels tight from the dryness and I don’t want to put anything on it because products often sting when my skin flares up, this one never stings for me
  • Nourish Daily Moisturizer never lets me down and her moisturizers in the tubs come with the most innovative push pump dispenser so you don’t have to worry about dipping hands or fingers into the container
In terms of luxury skincare I’ve had luck with La Mer and SK-II even though I am always reluctant to splurge due to the high price tag. I can say these are worth the splurge and I know many of my friends and probably some of you will agree.

  • La Mer Moisturizing Soft Cream has been a favorite for me, it’s a softer and lighter weight version of the regular cream (which is too heavy for me), I did not want to splurge on this so for a long time I lived off minis I got as GWPs, this is worth the splurge! For summer I’ve had to use this sparingly because even though it’s lighter than the cream in hot humid weather it can get a bit heavy feeling.
  • La Mer Soft The Moisturizing Soft Lotion is one of La Mer’s latest launches, it’s been out for a few months and it took me a while to decide whether or not to buy it because it does come with a hefty price tag, for me it’s almost identical in performance to the Moisturizing Soft Cream, but it’s a bit more fluid and comes with a pump. I’m all about the packaging and pump as I really don’t like dipping fingers into cream pots. After using this one skin feels noticeably softer by the next few days even though I only use this for day time. If I had to pick the Soft Cream or Soft Lotion, I would say I have a slight preference for the Soft Lotion.
  • La Mer The Tonic is the toner I’ve repurchased the most in my adult life, it never fails me, doesn’t strip the skin but at the same time makes sure skin is clean and rebalanced .
  • SK-II Facial Treatment Sheet Masks are my weakness when it comes to sheet masks, I love that they are soft and feel cool upon application, skin is always left brighter and refreshed, if I could afford to use these every day I would.
  • Cle de Peau Beaute Facial Cotton is something some may find silly to splurge on, but they are worth every penny, they’re thick but soft and don’t leave tiny fibers in my eyes when I use them to remove mascara or eyeliner, I’ve lost count of how many boxes I’ve bought and hope they never discontinue them.

I’ll be posting swatches and reviews of Tom Ford AW16 and Edward Bess Lipsticks over the next two days so you can take advantage of the savings if you’re buying sight unseen.

In the meantime I hope you found this roundup helpful! If you end up ordering anything let me know in the comments 🙂 I always love hearing about your hauls and picks. Some of you have asked for a “best of …” series. This roundup was a little teaser with a few categories. If more of you are interested let me know in the comments and what categories you’d like to see.

To recap, enter code BEAUTY at checkout if you’re shopping online at Bergdorf Goodman. Promotion runs through September 18th.
  • Receive $25 off purchases $250+
  • Receive $75 off purchases $500+
  • Receive $200 off purchases $1,000+
Many thanks to Bergdorf Goodman for sponsoring this post. As always all opinions my own. Press samples include the Edward Bess Lipsticks and Powders, Kate Somerville Nourish Moisturizer, Tom Ford Platinum Eyeshadow and Marc Jacobs Lip Lacquer + Air Blushes.
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Rouge Dior Lipstick Collection – The Natural Nudes Reviewed

September 14, 2016

This month Dior introduces a newly reformulated version of Rouge Dior ($35 each for 3.5 g / 0.12 oz) designed by Dior Makeup’s creative director Peter Philips. There are 50 shades total in two finishes: 35 classic luxe satins and 15 new long-wear mattes. The new formula is split into five different categories: natural nudes, pretty pinks, passionate corals, legendary reds and extreme/pastels covering a wide range of color options.

If you’ve followed Dior launches for a while you know that most of the line has been reformulated over the years. It’s been a couple generations of reformulations since I’ve tried the Rouge Dior formula because I’ve gravitated towards the glossy formulas like the Addict Fluid Stick, Rouge Dior Baume and Rouge Dior Brilliant. As one who likes glossy moist lipsticks I have to say the new Rouge Dior formula does not disappoint and I was completely blown away by how incredibly smooth, hydrating, pigmented and comforting the formula looks and feels. They have Hyaluronic Acid to plump the lips and Mango Butter to nourish and protect. The color payoff is very good while still looking natural.

When it comes to lipstick, I have tons that I can recommend. It’s one thing I really like to experiment with, but for others so many factors come into play for finding the right one. Color options, coverage, finish, packaging, price and scent matter.  Most of my friends are not into the matte lip look, they want something that has medium to full coverage with a bit of shine, moisturizes and preferably under the $40 mark. Most are ok with a bit of scent as long as it’s not too sweet or floral. The Rouge Dior fits the bill on all counts. There is a bit of scent to them but it’s not strong and fades within a few minutes.
A quick look at the color range:

For my last post on the Skyline Fall 2016 collection Dior offered a special promo code on their website for a limited time. Out of curiosity I placed an order for some items to see what it would look like in person. If you want to see the full haul let me know and I’ll do a separate post. But first a look at the packaging and presentation. Orders come in a gorgeous gift box tied with a bow (which in my excitement removed and untied immediately). There are always samples online at Dior.com, promos vary every week or so and you can always see them at the checkout page. With any $100+ order you get a deluxe sized sample (mine was the Sauvage Cologne) and 2 complimentary smaller samples come with every order.

For my review I have a look at nine of the Natural Nudes in the satin formula. I had a serious OMG moment when swatching these because as a nude and neutral lip lover I always find at least one shade doesn’t work for my pigmented lips. It’s happened with Tom Ford, Charlotte Tilbury and a number of other brands. The OMG moment is because every single one of these colors is just perfect. There are a few I wouldn’t really call “natural” or “nude” but compared to the other colors in the launch they are all relatively natural.
Top Row: Premiere, Grege 1947, Rose Montaigne, Bal, Hasard
Bottom Row: Saint Germain, Promenade, Dolce Vita and Rendez-vous

A closer look at all the colors and descriptions as I see them. All of these have flawless coverage. It’s similar in effect to their nail polishes in the sense that they glide on and have a naturally glossy finish. They feel instantly comforting without being thick or heavy. While they do feel moist they don’t feel like they will slide off the lips.
  • Premiere is a cool-toned medium pink with a bit of brightness, I rarely can wear cool-toned blue based pinks because it makes my skin look sallow but this one is just stunning
  • Grege 1947 is a medium beige pink cream
  • Rose Montaigne is a lovely light pink, this is the most natural looking on me and had the least coverage, but still covered my lip entirely
  • Bal is a warm pinky rose neutral
  • Hasard is a light ballet pink
  • Saint Germain is a stunning medium rose neutral nude
  • Promenade is a warmer neutral nude
  • Dolce Vita is a muted orangey color with a hint of copper
  • Rendez-Vous is a neutral reddish color with a slight hint of plum

Closer looks at Premiere, Grege 1947, Rose Montaigne, Bal, Hasard

Saint Germain, Promenade, Dolce Vita and Rendez-vous

Swatched below on bare lips. For skintone reference I’m wearing the Make Up For Ever Ultra HD Foundation in Y315 set with NARS Powder Foundation in Punjab. All of the lipsticks apply nicely on the lips without emphasizing lip lines or creeping into crevices. Lasting power is very good as long as you don’t eat snacks. If you feel like your lips are dry and want to add a base, I’ve had good luck with the Dior Addict Lip Glow Pomade. It’s supposed to be a color reviver formula to adjust like the stick version. On me it just stays clear but I’ve been using it as a lip oil treatment which is easier to use and less messy than the Creme de Rose Balm.

Swatches side by side:

My top 3 favorites: Grege 1947, Saint Germain and Rendez-Vous, also Bal comes in close 4th

Since these had a naturally glossy satiny sheen some of them may look shimmery as the flash reflected off the surface. Even the colors that have some shimmer are very natural and soft in effect. To show the difference I have a couple shades to show with versus without flash:

For quick reference, other new colors that are part of the Rouge Dior launch:

  • Rouge Dior Brilliant ($35 each) in Miss #047, Premiere #060, Red Smile #080
  • Rouge Dior Contour Lip Pencil ($31 each), 7 new shades in Miss #047, Premiere #060, Red Smile #080, New World Matte #365, Sydney Matte #644, Euphoric Matte #756 and Mysterieuse Matte #994
Bottom line the satin formula is perfect. Just absolutely perfect. The rest of the week will be a lip-heavy week for posts as I have quite a few lipstick formulas going through testing and are ready for review. You may want to wait and see reviews on others if you’re trying to decide on one lipstick formula for fall, but I will say the new Rouge Dior is brilliant. I did not test the last round of formulas so unfortunately I am not able to compare the old vs new. The last Rouge Dior I bought was probably at least two years ago and I no longer own it so cannot compare it either. However, based on my experience trying other reformulations I can say that Dior does seem to improve the formula, texture, pigment and lasting power with each new generation of products.

I’m thoroughly impressed with the Natural Nudes shades. As one who finds a lot of “nudes” end up washing me out, I am really quite pleased to find a new line of easy to wear shades that don’t need any tweaking. I’m set for now although the formula is so good I have to admit I’m a bit interested in some of the plum-reds which I think could be nice for fall. I’ll have to go investigate this weekend.

You can find the Rouge Dior at Dior.com and all other Dior counters. Have you had a chance to look at these yet? If yes what do you think? How do they lineup next to the previous formula?

Eight of the Rouge Dior Lipstick shades were provided courtesy of Dior for review. One shade Rose Montaigne was purchased by me.
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Edward Bess Deep Shine Lip Gloss

August 27, 2016

Edward Bess’s cosmetic line is among my favorites and it has been for many years. I discovered his brand while browsing through a Bergdorf Goodman catalog and there was a page that showed his Lip Wardrobe which was a collection of his lipsticks and glosses at the time packaged in a beautiful sleek black box. It looked so clean and modern and there were some pinks and nudes that looked amazing. I called up the store to order some sight unseen as a quick google search showed that the store in NYC was the only place to buy them. To this day the whole experience of ordering them has left an impression on me. I still remember how amazing, professional and helpful the girls were over the phone. I told them that I saw his lipsticks in the Bergdorfs catalog but didn’t know what colors to pick and asked if they could recommend 3 to 4 items for me to order sight unseen. Just for fun, you can see my first order in this post here. As a nice follow up they sent a card in the mail with their entire line swatched on a card as a reference for me since I wasn’t able to see the entire line in person. The whole experience left such an impression and that was the start of my love affair with Edward Bess’s line. I didn’t meet him in person until years later when he launched his line at Neiman Marcus Beverly Hills but we clicked instantly. This past summer I was thrilled to finally see his counter in person at Bergdorf Goodman which was truly the highlight of my trip. I feel incredibly lucky to have had lunch with him at one of his favorite cafes in the city. Quick peek of us taking selfies here.

I have a review of all the colors in his Deep Shine Lip Gloss ($32 each for.2 fl oz/5.9 ml). It took me a while to post this because a few of his glosses had been sold out for a few weeks and I had used up some of his colors so did not have them all to swatch. I know many of you may not be able to get to a counter easily to see these in person I wanted to create a comprehensive post as a reference for those who want to order sight unseen. At this time you can find his lip gloss at Neiman Marcus, Bergdorf Goodman, Net-A-Porter and Edward Bess. There are some stores and boutiques internationally that carry his line as well, check his website for the full updated list.

First a look at his counter in NYC:

There are eight shades of Deep Shine Lip Gloss at the moment. They are all non-shimmers and are fig scented. They have sheer to medium finish in terms of pigment and look very natural on the lips. The texture is slightly thick and sticky which may sound unappealing but they feel really nice on the lips and the consistency makes it so these stay put on the lips. You can layer for more color but overall finish is medium-sheer. I personally like most of these layered on top of his lipsticks or a liner because they add the best kind of shine and sheen to enhance a lipstick color. I’ve swatched them on bare lips though so you can see how the color looks by themselves. What I like best about the lighter colors is that they are smooth and aren’t patchy – many pale colors look patchy on my bare lips and need liner or lipstick to make them work. All of these colors work for me.

Colors shown from top to bottom include:

  • Nude Whisper is a pale flesh-toned light nude
  • Lover’s Desire is a peachy pink
  • Stolen Kiss is a pale pink
  • French Lace is a medium cool toned pink
  • Nude Satin is a mauvey nude pink
  • First Kiss is a bright cool pink
  • Wild Passion is a sheer plum
  • Amor is a sheer bright red
My personal favorites are Nude Satin (best color ever), First Kiss (prettiest pink), French Lace (best neutral pink) and Amor (best red ever, perfect for neutral lip lovers who want to wear red but are afraid to).

A closer look at the applicators, they have an angled sponge tip:

All eight colors will give you a you but better look for the lips. They are natural and work well to enhance your natural beauty without looking overdone or too heavy.

Swatched heavily on my arm, for reference you can see this cute video of the colors live swatched sheer on Edward’s arm on Instagram @edwardbess:

Swatched on bare lips (as always there is no liner, no foundation and no concealer on the lips to prep), you can also see First Kiss layered over a Tom Ford lipstick in this post here:

 

Above shown left to right: Nude Whisper, Stolen Kiss, Lover’s Desire, Amor, Wild Passion, French Lace, First Kiss and Nude Satin

Bottom line I love them all and I highly recommend. I almost always have at least one in my purse or makeup bag. I probably wear Lover’s Desire and Nude Satin the most. If you don’t like sticky at all these may be a bit too thick for your taste. Even though some of the colors are on the sheer side, I find that they have enough pigment to wear on their own. His lipliner in Natural is a must and works with a wide range of colors if you need a suggestion for something to wear underneath. The fig scent is to die for. I’ve been working on swatching his lipsticks too (another love). Those were also sold out at a number of places for a few weeks but just popped up back in stock online. Keep in mind that September is a big month for beauty events so you may want to wait a few weeks to splurge.

You can find Edward Bess’s Deep Shine Lipgloss at Neiman Marcus, Bergdorf Goodman, Net-A-Porter and Edward Bess. Follow Edward Bess on Instagram @edwardbess for fun videos and some tutorials.

Most colors gifted by Edward Bess in the past. For this post, Nude Whisper, Stolen Kiss and French Lace repurchased by me.

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