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The Makeup Show LA March 28-29th, 2015 – Event Preview

March 23, 2015

The Makeup Show Los Angeles is being held this spring on March 28th and 29th for all beauty professionals and students. This year is the 7th year they will be in LA. Those who attend will have the opportunity to participate in workshops and seminars led by industry experts and makeup artists. The Makeup Show LA will be featuring over 75 beauty brands including MAKE UP FOR EVER, Crown Brush and Temptu PRO, NARS, Smashbox, Pinnacle Cosmetics, The Powder Group and On Makeup Magazine, and Ruby Makeup Academy. Details on ticket information here.

Here is a preview of what you can expect to see at The Makeup Show LA this year. I’m looking forward to playing with these items in the upcoming days:

  • Smashbox is featuring some items in celebration of The Makeup Show LA Smashbox x Donald Robertson Icon gallery. Above is a vibrant red cream Be Legendary Lipstick in Bing.
  • Stila recently launched their Nude Interlude Color Balm Lipstick. Sophie (shown above) was a color sent as part of the press preview kit. It’s a super creamy balm-like nude with lots of pigment. There is a chocolate mint scent to it.
  • Ellis Faas will be making a personal appearance at the show this year as a keynote speaker. The Milky Lips come highly recommended by numerous readers but the line is one that I haven’t explored very much yet. Above is L201 a burgundy cream.
  • Ruby Makeup Academy has just launched their cosmetics line Ruby Cosmetics. One of the items sent as a preview is their LL Cream in Red Lights a super saturated lip creme.

  • Sephora Collection will be making an appearance at the show as well. Above are a sample of the Sephora Collection Colorful Blushes in Over the Moon (soft lilac), I’m Shocked (bright vivid hot pink), and Flirt It Up (soft peach pink). Also shown is one of the Pro Precision Blush Brushes #73. These come with a clever cap to store them and keep the bristles from getting messed up if you travel with them.

  • Smashbox recently released a Step-By-Step Contour Stick Trio. This is a unique method of cream contouring in chubby pencil form. There are three colors: Highlight is a pale cream, Bronze is a medium tan, Contour is the darkest color which is a brown. (Scroll down below for swatches.) I’ve never been one to master the cream contour process but these come with visual diagrams of how to use each color based on face shape with placement charts. I’ll be experimenting in the upcoming weeks and sharing more thoughts on this.

  • Bioderma Sensibio H20 made its US debut via Beautylish and sold out within 24 hours of the initial launch. It will be featured at The Makeup Show LA this March. (I’ve been testing this for a few weeks, still need to test it some more, but a review will be posted soon.)
  • Make Up For Ever launched a collection of skin primers called Step 1 Skin Equalizers. There are 10 options for different effects. Above shown is the Nourishing Primer (more cream like) and Hydrating Primer (more gel like). There are 5 primers designed for texture and 5 primers created to add tone to the skin (tinted versions). I’m really looking forward to testing these, especially as the weather starts to shift and my skin needs an update in skincare, primer and foundation. If you’ve tried these what did you think?

  • SENNA Cosmetics is launching their Brow Shaper Duos and Pro Brow Brush exclusively at The Makeup Show this year. I am very impressed with the brush. The angled tip is dense but soft enough to not feel pokey. The brush at the other end is thick and plush with just the right texture to comb through my brows. For brows I usually use a pencil or brow mascara. Using the powder + wax combination is new to me. I’ve experimented with it a few times but have been searching for YouTube tutorial videos to see exactly how I’m supposed to use it. The color brunette is a good one for my dark brows. I prefer something slightly lighter than my natural hair color so it doesn’t look too dramatic. The pot looks like something that would turn out red but it’s actually a good neutral. 
  • Pinnacle Cosmetics launched their Eye Lights liquid shimmer eye shadow. There are three shades shown above as part of their preview. Purity is a metallic rose gold, Treasure is a warm golden coppery color, Chrome is a pale silvery shade. These have a slight mousse-like feel. The pigment is rich but blendable. The colors set really fast so you need to apply and blend quickly. Once they set though the color really stays put.

  • Static Nails are pop on nails that are non-damaging to your actual nail. Empire is a mix of beige with black designs. I’ve never tried pop-on nails before so these will be interesting for me to play with in the next few weeks.

  • MustaeV is joining The Makeup Show for the first time this year. Above is a unique product called The Bloom Pouch. It’s a zippered makeup pouch with a magnetic clasp. Above shows how you can store brushes and pencils or other items. Below shows how you can turn it into a vertical brush holder that stands upright.

A few quick swatches of the items shown above:

Ticket information and details on the show online at The Makeup Show LA. It will be located at The California Market Center, 110 East 9th Street, Los Angeles on Saturday March 28th (from 9:00 am to 6:00 pm) and Sunday the 29th (9:00 am to 5:00 pm). You can find the full list of Exhibitors online here.

For more information and updates be sure to follow The Makeup Show via social channels on Facebook, Twitter @themakeupshow, and Instagram @themakeupshow.

Have you been to The Makeup Show before? This will be the first year that I will be attending!
The items featured were sent as part of a press preview courtesy of The Makeup Show.
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Burberry Beauty Runway Nail Collection Pink Tones – Hydrangea Pink, Bright Coral Red and Pink Azalea

March 22, 2015

Burberry released a couple nail polish trios featuring new shades from the Prorsum Spring/Summer 2015 runway show back in September. There is a Pink Tones Trio with Hydrangea Pink, Bright Coral Red and Pink Azalea and a Blue Tones Trio with Stone Blue, Aqua Green and Imperial Blue ($66 each trio). Both are exclusive to Burberry.com but you can buy the colors individually at Nordstrom and Saks. I ordered the Pink Tones not realizing it included a color I already owned Pink Azalea which is a re-promoted color from Summer Showers collection. I have swatches of all three to share today plus some comparisons.

Hydrangea Pink is a really pretty medium-toned rose pink. Sometimes I find it odd that finding the perfect classic medium pink is difficult to come across, many are too warm, too coral, too red, too pale, too deep. Hydrangea Pink has reached holy grail status for me as a perfect feminine medium soft rose pink. It’s in the perfect in-between mark of warm and cool making it a good neutral flattering pink. The formula on this is really good. The brushes are on the wide side but the pigment and coverage is smooth and flawless. Two coats are needed to cover the nail entirely but the finish is glossy with perfect coverage.

Bright Coral Red is my second favorite and it’s pretty bright coral red (just like the name implies). It has enough brightness to give it life and prevent it from looking dark like some reds can. At the same time it has enough red to prevent it from looking orange. Formula and coverage on this is also flawless. If you already own Lucky, Glory or some of the other corals from Dior you may want to skip this one, although the Burberry is quite bright making it slightly different from the others.

Third is Azalea Pink which is a raspberry berry pink cream. This is a re-promoted color. In case you missed the original post with the Summer Showers collection, I’ve added the swatch here again. It mimics a raspberry with just enough blue undertone to give it a pink touch.

Comparisons swatched below:

Quick closeup of the brush & bottles:

Overall beautiful classics that are easy to wear. Hydrangea Pink is the most neutral of the three options and it’s the perfect medium rosy pink. If you want something with more color Bright Coral Red is the most vibrant option that has a summery vibe. Azalea Pink is a classic raspberry cream that has a lovely blue undertone, although it’s very similar to Chanel April. In my experience lasting power is quite good with these. I can get around 5 days of wear without any tip wear or chipping. I had on Hydrangea Pink this weekend however I did ruin my nails playing frisbee this weekend and ended up chipping and breaking 3 nails (inserts a big sad face). It’s a good thing I had done a lot of nail swatching before hand (I have some exciting new polishes to share with you in the next few days).

You can find all three pinks in a 3-piece boxed set for $66 at Burberry.com. Also individually for $22 each at Burberry, Nordstrom and Saks Fifth Avenue.

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On Instagram

March 20, 2015

Happy Friday everyone! The past few weeks I’ve been testing some new haircare and skincare items. There are several items I’ve already fallen in love with. I’m particularly smitten with the Nuxe Rêve de Miel Gentle Shampoo and Chanel Hydra Beauty Micro Serum. I hope to have roundup features and reviews in the upcoming weeks on some tried and true plus new favorites.

One thing I’ve been on the hunt for is a good eye cream for day and for night. I’ve accumulated a few sample packets and minis from gift with purchases and samples from online orders (I’ve been testing La Mer, Tatcha, Fresh, Chanel, First Aid Beauty and more). If you have any favorites I’d love to hear what you use and love. The Chanel Sublimage Eye Cream is the best one I’ve tried but I’m trying to find something less expensive (although at the end of the day I think that one is the one for me). If you’ve tried the Le Lift version, what did you think?

If you follow me on Instagram @beautylookbook you’ll notice a wave of flowers filling my feed. There’s nothing quite like having simple fresh cut flowers in the home to change the mood and refresh the look of any room. To all those who follow me and take the time to comment throughout the day, thank you!!! It means so much that you take the time out of your busy lives and schedules to comment and like 🙂

I hope you have a lovely weekend!

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Yves Saint Laurent Pop Water Collection: New Glossy Stains and Nail Lacquers

March 19, 2015

Yves Saint Laurent Beauty and Nordstrom have an exclusive beauty release called the Pop Water Collection. It’s a release of new shades of Glossy Stains, Nail Lacquers and a new Metallic Eyeshadow Formula for spring to summer. The collection is currently available only at Nordstrom until mid-late April.

The Pop Water collection includes:

I picked up some of the items for lips and nails – all of which are fresh juicy bright colors really pretty to brighten up the mood for spring to summer. Here’s a quick look at what I ordered and have been testing this week:

First up are the new Vernis à Lèvres Glossy Stains. If you’re a YSL fan you are probably already familiar with the previously released colors of the Vernis à Lèvres Glossy Stains (original colors here, also rebel nudes colors here). I’ve had a couple of these over the past few years recommended highly by one of my best friends. She said these give the lips a juicy wash of color and feel really lush once you apply them. I’m not usually a fan of lip stains because they tend to look so dark on me, but I’m glad I tried these. The YSL Vernis à Lèvres Glossy Stains have the right mix of gloss and stain so they are like a lipgloss but have enough pigment in them they look like a soft stain of color on the lips. At the same time they don’t look dark like traditional lip stains. The Pop Water Collection features slightly different packaging with the black YSL logo (versus the red in the older versions). It gives these a new updated edgy look.

The sponge tip is perfectly shaped to get precise application around the edges while the flat beveled parts allow you to fill in and cover the entire lip. It’s something you have to test in person to really see how well designed the applicator is.

There are two versions of the Glossy Stain this season. The Plump Up 200 is a hydrating plumper for the lips. It comes in a very pale soft pink shimmer but on the lips it’s basically clear. It is incredibly hydrating and does give the lips a pretty long-lasting shine. It makes the lips look full without making the lips tingle or go numb (huge plus for me). 

Then there are the tinted versions. All are variations of bright summery colors but still very wearable (even for neutral lip lovers) The remaining 8 colors of the Vernis à Lèvres Glossy Stains are all brighter colors. 203 Eau de Corail is a warm coral peach with a hint of pink, 204 Onde Rose is a medium red rose pink, 205 Pink Rain (my favorite) is a cool-toned bright pink, 207 Juicy Peach is a warm orangey peach, 208 Wet Nude is a soft peachy color.

I really like how these apply like a semi-thick gloss to adhere well to the lips. It transforms into a smoother feeling gloss once you let it sit. It has texture which keeps the lips hydrated and soft. One swipe gives a soft tint. Adding more swipes will intensify the color.

Swatches + close ups:

Lip Swatches:

For quick reference and comparison to other YSL products, the Glossy Stains are what I wanted the Volupté Tint-In-Oils to be (which turned out to be too sheer for my liking). By comparison, the Babydoll Kiss & Blush is creamier with an opaque finish making them suitable for lips and cheeks.

Next up are the new Pop Water La Lacque Couture Nail Lacquers (four translucent shades). Although I’m a huge fan of the YSL La Lacque Couture Nail Polish formula, I picked out two of the translucent ones to test out before splurging on all four. 63 Rouge Wet is a sheer jelly red, 64 Fuchsia Rain is a sheer jelly pink. Both have a see through formula which requires 3 coats for me to get a glossy smooth finish. The result is very interesting but I’m undecided on how I feel. I tried these layered over soft pinks and they transform the colors into brighter deeper versions and add a super glossy finish. I like the high shine these have. I wish all nail polishes had a finish this shiny.

Rouge Wet with 3 coats:

Fuchsia Rain with 3 coats, it looks very similar to Rouge Wet, but this one is slightly more pink:

Here is Fuchsia Rain layered over Rouge Pablo on the right side shows how it has a lush glossy wet shiny finish (which I really love):

Click icons below to shop:

Bottom line I’m in love with the Pop Water Glossy Stains. My favorites are Pink Rain and Wet Nude. These are scented with a soft sweet grapefruit scent but it’s not too overwhelming and actually is really pleasant (at least for me). I’m undecided about the Pop Water Nail Lacquers. They are definitely unique and fun for summer and I like the high shine they offer.

You can find the Pop Water Collection now at Nordstrom. Have you checked out this collection yet? If not are you a fan of the Glossy Stains? Which colors are your favorites? P.S. Nordstrom has Triple Points going on with gift with purchases online and instores. The online gift includes samples of Volume Effet Faux Cils Shocking Mascara (0.06 oz.), Forever Youth Liberator Serum (2 packets), Gloss Volupte in 3 shades and Touche Éclat in 3 shades with your $125 Yves Saint Laurent beauty purchase.


This post was sponsored by Nordstrom. All items purchased by me, all opinions my own. For more information refer to my disclosures.

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Chanel Rouge Coco Ultra Hydrating Lip Colour

March 17, 2015

Chanel relaunched their classic Rouge Coco Lipsticks in a new formula with new and re-promoted colors ($36 each for 3.5 g / 0.12 oz, made in France). I ordered several online last month and have been playing with the shades for a few weeks. I’ve been a fan of all the Chanel Lipstick formulas (back to the days of the Aqualumieres and Hydrabase) and each time Chanel discontinues one my heart breaks a little. The good news is that the Rouge Cocos that launched this year are indeed improved from the previous formula. The new ones are more hydrating with a smoother texture that glides on the lips. The main difference to me between the old and new is that the revamped version has a more luminous look that doesn’t tug when you swipe them on the lips. According to Chanel the Rouge Cocos “are made with jojoba and mimosa butters, sunflower wax and silicone for lasting hydration and luminous results.”

The new Rouge Cocos are medium in coverage but the pigment is buildable. Each color has varying degrees of shimmer, most have some shimmer mixed in which gives them that luminous glow, but most of them do not have a frosty finish. What remains the same is the sleek packaging design and rose scent. Some of the colors like Mademoiselle, Legende and Teheran are re-promoted colors. Based on my old vs new Mademoiselle, the colors appear to be almost 100% identical, the new version isn’t quite as dark and has a more luminous finish giving it a modern updated look.

For the color range, there is a lot to choose from. If you like neutrals there are several beautiful options. There are five main color categories with names that inspired Coco Chanel:
  • Lovers – passion reflected by dramatic reds
  • Family – a tribute in understated nude shades
  • Best Friends – celebrated by romantic pinks
  • Muses – an homage in bright corals
  • Artists – honored by deep plum shades  

Shown above: Rouge Coco in Mademoiselle, Catherine, Cécile, Vera, Suzanne
Glossimer in Sweet Beige (swatched here)
Le Crayon Levres in Beige Innocent and Beige Satin
Cire Trudon in Odalisque

I ordered eight colors, all neutrals of course. The closeup below shows the luminous shimmer mixed into each of the colors. The finish on the lips is soft and glowy without being frosty at all.

Ingredients listed on the box (clickable for larger viewing):

On to the colors I picked out with swatches and descriptions:

Note the glow in the swatches below is simply the luminous glow these give off when photographed with a flash, they aren’t frosty or overly glossy, but the finish does make them look a bit shimmery:

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Louise is a flesh beige nude with silver and gold flecks of shimmer. This one is closest on me to a true nude color. It has a luminous finish that covers the lip entirely.

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Adrienne is a medium neutral beige with a very slight hint of peach that gives it warmth. If I had to pick one favorite, this would be it.

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Julia is another medium nude caramel color (it’s darker than Louise). It has some brown tones in it so if you’re one who can’t wear super pale nudes, this is a good alternative because it has color in it and won’t wash you out.

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Catherine is a sheer soft peach. With a few swipes it almost looks like a baby pink. More swipes will bring out the peach in it. It’s one of the sheerer ones I tried so based on this, I think Catherine will look very different on different skin/lip tones. It reminds me of one of the older Hydrabase Lipsticks in Lola (long discontinued).

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Vera is a soft pale baby pink. This has sheer to medium coverage that needs several swipes to build up color. If you have pigmented lips like me, I recommend wearing a lipliner with this one to prevent the outer rim of the lip from showing thru making it look like you have a dark lipliner with a light lipstick.

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Cécile is a medium neutral-cool rose pink. This is one of the more shimmery ones I tried. I think the frost can be softened by a lipliner (like Chanel Nude or Natural or MAC Boldly Bare) or by adding a bit of sheer gloss on top.

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Mademoiselle is a warm rose. The new one seems slightly lighter in color compared to the original version, but to me they are almost identical once on the face.

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Suzanne is a medium plum with sheer to medium coverage. This one looks almost glossy on the lip because of the sheerness. It is buildable but the luminous sheen on the lips gives it a slightly sheer look.

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Because all of the Rouge Coco colors have a luminous hydrating finish they won’t last all day or for super-extended periods of time like the Marc Jacobs Le Marc Lip Cremes but they do last longer on the lips compared to sheer lipsticks like Chanel Rouge Coco Shines or YSL Volupte Shines. I would say lasting power is average for a lipstick. You can get several hours of wear without it fading or budging as long as you don’t touch the lips with a cup of tea, coffee, water or snacks. Out of all the Chanel Lipstick formulas my favorites are still the Rouge Coco Shines and Rouge Allures, but the new Rouge Coco is pretty fabulous too. I have a super sensitive nose but have always been able to wear the rose-scented Chanel lipsticks. Some have commented they cannot wear anything fragranced so if you are one with an extra sensitive nose, I’d say stick with the Rouge Allure or opt for one of the new Burberry Kisses Lipsticks.
I’ve been a Chanel fan for as long as I can remember using beauty products. The new Rouge Cocos do not disappoint. I think the diverse color range is one of the strengths of this release. There is a good selection of colors for neutrals, lights, mediums, deeps, brights. If you’re a neutral lip lover like me you will be happy to see there are neutral, cool and warm-toned options.
My top three picks: Adrienne, Louise and Suzanne
The Chanel Rouge Cocos retail for $36 each. In the US there are 29 shades all currently available for purchase at Chanel counters and boutiques. Also online at Nordstrom, Neiman Marcus, Saks Fifth Avenue, Bloomingdales and Chanel.com.
Have you checked out the new Rouge Cocos? Which colors did you pick out?
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Tatcha Indigo Soothing Rice Enzyme Powder (Travel Size)

March 16, 2015

Tatcha’s latest is the new Indigo Soothing Rice Enzyme Powder, available in two forms: $65 for the Full Size Version (60 g / 2.1 oz.) or $15 for Travel Size Mini (10 g / 0.5 fl. oz). This is the most gentle rice enyme powder they’ve released to date with rice bran, indigo extract, colloidal oatmeal + HADASEI-3 Bioactive Complex. Based on my testing of the Classic, Gentle and Deep, the new Indigo is the best one yet. It’s strong enough to give the skin a proper cleansing but gentle enough for days when your skin is extra sensitive. Even though it seems like the winter season never really arrived in Southern California (it’s in the high 70s this week), the weather has been dry making my skin react like a roller coaster. The Indigo Soothing Rice Enzyme Powder is the perfect exfoliant for those who don’t like traditional scrubs. If you’re like me they are almost always too harsh or if they are gentle they leave a film on the skin. The Tatcha cleans the skin well leaving it soft and residue free.

In case you are new to the Tatcha Rice Enzyme Powders, these are soft powder exfoliant cleansers that are activated with water. They come in a sturdy canister with a clever opening that helps dispense small amounts of powder into your hand. It prevents the product from getting all over the place when you use it and also makes sure that the product stays inside the container in case you travel with these. There are three types of the Polished Rice Enzyme Powders designed for different skin types: Classic is for normal skin, Gentle is for dry skin and Deep is for those with oily skin. You can see my previous review on all three here.
I use these as a double cleanse. First I use a cleansing water or oil to remove all traces of makeup. Then I follow with a regular cleanser or one of the Rice Enzyme Powders. These are the perfect mix between a cleanser and exfoliator. For me traditional face scrubs often end up tearing the skin and cause break outs (no matter how gentle they are). There is a learning curve to figure out the right mix of water to powder to create the right thickness in texture. I usually have one hand wet with water, then I’ll sprinkle about a tablespoon of powder into the palm. I’ll take the other hand (also damp) and rub together to create a paste.

Some more close ups of the Indigo Soothing Rice Enzyme Powder, featured here is the travel size:

Classic Full Size vs Indigo Travel Size:

Ingredients: Oryza Sativa (Rice) Powder, Microcrystalline Cellulose, Potassium Myristate, Polygonum Tinctorium (Japanese Indigo) Leaf/Stem Extract, Indigofera Tinctoria Leaf Extract, Colloidal Oatmeal, Camellia Sinensis (Green Tea) Leaf Extract, Hydrolyzed Conchiolin (Pearl) Protein, Oryza Sativa (Rice) Bran, Algae Extract, Glycerin, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Benzoate, Calcium Carbonate, Titanium Dioxide, Tin Oxide, Mica, Alcohol, Phenoxyethanol.

The Indigo line is created for sensitive skin. I’ve been a huge fan of the Body Butter and Hand Creams because they really do work wonders for the skin when it’s dry or irritated. I love that they’ve added more to the Indigo line because the items smell incredibly good (although the Rice Enzyme Powder has no detectable scent). I’m secretly hoping they will release a shower gel or body lotion in the future.

If you’re new to Tatcha they have a large selection of Travel/Trial Sized items which makes it nice to try things out at a lower price point before investing in the full sized options. Out of all the Rice Enzyme Powders the Indigo is my new favorite followed by the Classic version. Tatcha kindly sent me the travel size to try out. I have the full size version in my online shopping cart right now and will be purchasing it after I hit publish on this post. The travel sized version will be traveling with me on a few trips I have in the upcoming months.

Bottom line highly recommend. You can find the Tatcha Indigo Soothing Rice Enzyme Powder in two sizes. The Full Size (60 g) retails for $65 and the Travel Size (10 g) retails for $15. Note there is still a promo code available: receive complimentary Aburitorigami Beauty Papers ($12 value) with any order over $20. Use promo code TREAT2015 at checkout to redeem. Offer may not be combined with any other promotions. Valid 3/5/2015 to 3/31/2015.
The travel sized Indigo rice powder was provided courtesy of Tatcha for review consideration.
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Burberry Kisses Hydrating Lip Colour – Nude Pink, Garnet, Oxblood, Bright Coral, Blossom Pink and Rose Blush

March 14, 2015

This spring Burberry Beauty has released a new lipstick formula called Burberry Kisses ($33 each for 3.8 g / 0.13 oz, made in Italy). There are 28 shades of this new hydrating lipstick formula. It appears these have been launched to replace the original Lip Cover Soft Satin Lipsticks (still available at Nordstrom and Saks). A few of the older colors have been relaunched in the new formula but most of the shades are new ones. I was a fan of the Lip Covers and Lip Mists for their soft natural color and flawless application. Burberry has released some released soft pinks, nudes, mauves and roses but I know many could not wear the lipsticks due to the rose scent. The good news for those with sensitive noses is the new formula has no detectable fragrance or taste. I didn’t think the formula could get better but it has with improved wear, texture, buildable color.

I have six shades to share thoughts on today. The Burberry team kindly sent over a diverse range of six colors for me to test. I have yet to make a trip to my local Burberry counter to see all the colors in person but after putting six to the test I can say I will definitely be checking out the others soon. The packaging of the new Burberry Kisses is the same in size, design and form as the original lipsticks. They come in a silver squared tube that come with magnetic snap lids.

The formula of the Kisses lipsticks is like no other lipstick I’ve tried. These are like a weightless velvety cushion for the lips with truly buildable pigment. These are described as being able to give you sheer to high coverage and the formula is just that. One swipe gives a sheer even wash of color, multiple swipes will add more color without feeling heavy or looking cakey. Compared to the Lip Covers, the Kisses Lipsticks have less of a slip and less shine, but still look natural and meld into the lips. If you’re well acquainted with the lipstick formulas Burberry has released, I’d describe the finish somewhere in between that of the Lip Velvets and Lip Covers. They do have a moisturizing and hydrating feel but don’t feel heavy or thick. Lasting power is quite good, I had no fading within 4 hours of wear (but I didn’t eat or drink in that testing period).

The 28 colors are grouped into five main color categories of Nude, Pink, Coral, Brown/Rosewood and Red. Six shades I have to share, all are creams without any visible shimmer:
  • Blossom Pink is a soft neutral pink nude that leans more pink
  • Garnet is a medium rosewood plum mauve, it’s a nice polished medium-dark pink mauve that doesn’t pull brown or too dark
  • Bright Coral is a vibrant coral that is very bright on my complexion
  • Nude Pink is just that, a nude pink, very similar to Blossom Pink (which is more pink), this is a flawless nude pink lipstick, it’s light on my pigmented lips but doesn’t wash me out, if you have lips that are lighter this will look darker on you
  • Rose Blush is a soft mauve rose about 1.5 shades lighter than Garnet
  • Oxblood is a classic deep vampy wine color

Swatches and more views:

Lip swatches, for skintone reference I’m wearing NARS All Day Luminous Foundation in Punjab mixed with Charlotte Tilbury Wonderglow mixed together:

I pulled a few of the older Lip Covers to compare with the new Kisses formula. There is only one that I have both the old and new formula of to compare, Oxblood is identical in the new and old formula in color and coverage, the older version is slightly more glossy.

* Note Devon Sunset has also been released in the new formula, but I haven’t seen both side by side to compare the colors

One last shot below of the new Burberry Kisses, left to right is Nude Pink, Oxblood, Bright Cora, Nude Blush, Blossom Pink and Garnet

Bottom line gorgeous. The formula of the Burberry Kisses is really good. I plan on looking into the other colors very soon. There are quite a few new lipstick formulas that have been launched this spring and you may be wondering which one is best. I think each brand has developed unique formulas to suit different tastes and likes. My quick take based on what I’ve tested:

  • The Marc Jacobs Sheer Lip Gels offer a range of lighter colored nudes to brighter neutrals with a glossy sheen. If you have dry lips you need to prep your lips otherwise the colors will emphasize lip lines. Range offers one shimmer (Have We Met?) and the rest are non-shimmers. These have a very soft vanilla scent (emphasis on very soft).
  • The Marc Jacobs Le Marc Lip Cremes are for those who like strong bold colors with super saturated pigment and long wear color. This range does have a few neutrals but the focus is on bold rich color, all are creams. The formula is hydrating. The color options are heavy on the reds and corals. There are also good mochas, plums and brights. These have a soft vanilla scent.
  • Chanel relaunched their Rouge Coco Lipsticks (to be reviewed soon). This range offers a wide selection of neutrals in the nude, pink and rose range, there are also a couple medium mauves and then you have the jump to brights and deeper colors to choose from. The colors have a soft shimmer mixed in for dimension with a medium glossy finish. Some have more shimmer than others, but they all have a luminous look. These have a rose scent.
  • The Burberry Kisses Lip Colors are somewhere in the middle of all the others with coverage that is buildable from sheer to  medium-full coverage without any shimmer but don’t look flat. The finish is very natural with a slight sheen but don’t have that high shine finish and the formula melds into the lip for a natural look. This launch has the widest range of colors to choose from neutrals, roses, pinks, mauves, reds and corals (although it does seem to lack any brown-tones).

I’ve found something likable in all the formulas I’ve tested but I think the Burberry line will appeal to more people due to the color range and the fragrance-free formula. You can find the Burberry Kisses Lipsticks at Burberry.com right now. Also available at select Nordstrom and Saks Fifth Avenue stores and online this month.

Have you tried the new Burberry Kisses Lipstick formula yet? What did you think?

The Burberry Kisses were provided courtesy of Burberry for review consideration.
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