Some new items on my radar this week that have popped up. I’m still working my way through photographing and swatching items from Marc Jacobs Beauty, Hourglass, Burberry, Chanel and Charlotte Tilbury. There’s not enough hours in the day for all the fun stuff. As usual I’d love to hear what’s on your beauty radar right now. I’m in the process of testing out some eye creams (sample packets and a few I’ve bought) – if you have any favorite eye creams I’d love to hear your recs in the comments.
NARS will release six shades of Dual-Intensity Blush next week at online at Sephora, NARS Cosmetics and NARS Boutiques on March 4th and at all other locations April 1st. As someone who is obsessed with the Dual-Intensity Eyeshadows, I’m beyond excited for these.
Chanel has some new items in skincare. The entire Le Blanc line has been reformulated so if you have some staples I recommend you check your counter as soon as possible to see if they have the older formulas to stock up. I just ran out of my go-to Estee Lauder toner so I decided to give the Le Blanc Brightening Moisturizing Lotion a try. I’ll have a more detailed report once I give it a test drive.
Another new item from Chanel is the Hydra Beauty Micro Serum. From what I’ve heard, it will not replace the current Hydra Beauty Serum, but is simply an addition to the line for more moisture. I bought the Micro Serum yesterday and can’t wait to try it out.
The Bite Beauty Butter Cream Lipsticks are now available for everyone to purchase (no longer a VIB/VIB Rouge exclusive). There are eight shades of nudes and mauves which are super tempting. Given the fact that I have acquired a number of Chanel Rouge Cocos, Dior Glosses and Marc Jacobs Lipsticks buying another lipstick just seems silly. But many of you keep raving about Bite so I might check out 1 or 2.
Dior has three new Gel-Shine Vernis Nail Lacquers launched with the release of the lip glosses. The three colors are Rose, Pink and Corail. I’ll have swatches for you next week.
Bobbi Brown has new Cheek Palettes with different color themes in Berry, Pink and Calypso. These are so stunning and well pigmented. I haven’t splurged yet but these are on my radar.
Tatcha’s latest is the Indigo Soothing Rice Enzyme Powder for sensitive skin. It’s also available in a travel size. I’m a huge fan of the regular version (reviewed here) and this new one looks promising for days that my skin is experiencing extra sensitivity.
Burberry has reformulated all of their shadows. In addition to their powder shadows, there is another new formula called Wet & Dry Glow Shadows in Optic White, Gold Pearl, Nude and Shell which are mind blowingly gorgeous. I’m working on swatches this week.
Clinique has two Chubby Sticks out. There is a Chubby Stick Sculpting Highlight and Chubby Stick Sculpting Contour. I like the look of the packaging and they look like they are really easy to use but reviews are mixed. Have you tried these? I’d love to hear your thoughts.
Glamglow recently expanded their mask line to include new mud to foam cleansers. I’m a huge fan of their face masks so I knew I had to try the recently released cleansers. I purchased two of the new cleansers in the Supercleanse Daily Clearing Cleanser ($39 for 5 oz) and Thirstycleanse Daily Treatment Cleanser ($39 for 5 oz) from Sephora the week they launched back in January. Today I have a review of both to share after extensively testing both.
Both the cleansers are designed for daily use. I found them to be gentler versions of their mask counterparts. The scents are identical to the mask formulas which I find soothing and refreshing. They both come cased in a hefty cardboard cylinder which keeps both of the cleansers in tact inside – a huge plus especially if you order online, you can rest assured that these are well protected. The cleansers come with a pump dispenser. I usually use two pumps of product although some may need three.
The Glamglow cleansers are mud to foam cleansers. A Sephora rep did a small demo on the back of my hand in store with the Supercleanse to show how it works. I was amazed at how it really smoothed the skin and also removed redness. A comparison of a treated hand to one that wasn’t treated showed a noticeable difference. The way you use these is pretty self explanatory and there are easy to use instructions on the packaging. Apply the mud on dry skin and massage into the face. Leave it on for as long as you would like (it was recommended a couple minutes at most). Then add water to your hands and massage it into the product to create a foam. Since these are thick mud cleansers, I found there wasn’t really a traditional foaming result with just a tiny bit of water, but it did create a creamy lather with water added. I found the foaming action to be very subtle. Then rinse off completely.
Deciding on which one to buy will depend on your skin type. I will say upfront that I prefer the Supercleanse to clear the skin and clean out pores. Although these are gentle and designed for everyday, for my skin I think these are still too strong for daily use. For me they are better suited for every other day use. More thoughts on each below.
The Glamglow Supercleanse Daily Clearing Cleanser is based on the Supermud Clearing Treatment Mask. It’s designed for problem skin and helps remove pore-clogging debris and impurities. It claims to reduce the appearance of skin imperfections and create a mattified, super clear complexion. I found all to be true. It works as an excellent clearing treatment cleanser and really does work to draw out impurities. Some have reported that it caused breakouts or a purging period. After using this I did have a few breakouts surface on the chin (3 to be exact). But none on other areas of the face and there were no additional breakouts after a week. The Supercleanse has a slightly cool feel on the skin but it’s not tingly. After using it I found it does give the skin a slightly tight feel with a matte finish.
These are described as being able to remove all traces of makeup. I found this to be true except for eye makeup since you don’t really want the mud to get into the eyes, I recommend removing eye makeup with a cotton pad and your go-to eye makeup remover first, then follow with this cleanser.
I like using this one at the end of the day or after a work out. It calms and cleanses the skin thoroughly. I found daily use didn’t dry out my skin although it did start to feel a bit too tight. I like this one every other day at most.
Ingredient listing:
-TEAOXI® Technology (Eucalyptus Leaf Powder): Delivers natural eucalyptol, natural linalool oil, and powerful flavonoids to soothe and treat skin.
-K17 and Mediterranean Clays: Detoxify, refine skin texture, and balance problem-prone skin.
-Bamboo Charcoal: Provides balanced replenishment to the skin with essential bamboo minerals.
-Black Cumin Seed Extract: Provides antimicrobial and antioxidant properties to help provide a more clear complexion.
The Glamglow Thirstycleanse Daily Treatment Cleanser is a designed for dry or dehydrated skin but I found this to be quite drying on my normal combination skin. The product description details that it is formulated with ingredients to boost skin for intense hydration, replenish skin, and restore the skin barrier function. It’s supposed to create a hydrated, silky, and dewy fresh complexion. After using this I found the skin to feel more tight compared to use with the Supercleanse. It did leave the skin feeling silky and smooth but there was no dewy look and it definitely did not feel hydrated.
I didn’t experience any reactions or breakouts although my skin did feel slightly irritated after using this. The Thirstycleanse does an excellent job at removing all traces of makeup just like the Supercleanse but for something that is designed for dry skin I would have liked to feel more moisture. For this one I would recommend try before you buy. If you are in search of a moisture treatment, I’d recommend you opt for or stick with the Thirstymud Hydrating Treatment Mask instead. I have sensitive skin and have had no issues with the mask (it’s one of my favorites). The cleanser on the other hand didn’t work so well for me mainly because I didn’t find it hydrating and it also left my skin feeling tingly after rinsing. It’s too bad that it didn’t work as I had hoped since it smells amazing (like coconut and almonds) and feels amazing when it’s on the skin too. It’s the after part that doesn’t feel so great.
Ingredients:
-TEAOXI® Olive Leaf Powder: Micronized to deliver natural linoleic acid to maintain moisture.
-Rare Brazilian Yellow Clay: Helps remineralize the skin and rinse away impurities, leaving skin softer and smoother without stripping moisture.
-Pure Green Coconut Water: Naturally high in vitamins and amino acids to immediately boost and replenish skin for intense hydration and lasting moisturization.
-South Pacific Plumeria Flower Blossom Extract: Rich in omega 3, 6, and 9 to restore the skin barrier function.
Bottom line is I think they are both worth looking into. I’ve already ordered a backup of the Supercleanse because I know I’ll run out of my first bottle within the next month. Both are available now at Sephora and Glamglow. They are also releasing cleansers to match their other masks as well but I have not yet seen or tried them yet.
Have you tried these Glamglow Mud to Foam Cleansers? What did you think? If you’re a Glamglow fan, which is your favorite mask to use?
If you’ve been eyeing those adorable Truffle Pouches but haven’t splurged on one yet, today select styles are on sale at One Kings Lane for a limited time. Since discovering these last year I’ve found all of the Truffle pouches, cases and clutches to be essential in keeping my things organized and compact. They make everything look put together in a simple yet fashionable way. There are a multitude of uses for these, often times I will have 2 pouches with me in my purse to separate or organize things. The flat design keeps all your items nicely compact which makes these slip into your purse easily without taking up too much room.
Above top left is an example of what I can hold in the Small Clarity Pouch. The clear front and back has a bit of stretch to it although I don’t recommend putting super large items in it if you want it to keep the flat shape. While they are on the pricey side the material is of really good quality and the detailing and design is really good. The small ones hold quite a bit, you can find ideas of how other people use Truffle on their instagram @onetruffle.
The bottom is the Privacy Clutch in Blush. They come in a number of colors and I carry these frequently. The leather is pebbled which makes it ultra sturdy. They are also made of really good material and lined on the interior. I ordered a bunch of the clutches and pouches over the holiday sale and gave them out as Christmas gifts and they were very well received.
Note pouches come alone without any product inside. Above is a styled photo with some of the items I own to give you an idea of how to use these. There’s a timer on the One Kings Lane Dreaming of the Sun page that shows how long the sale is good for, while supplies last. Other options and styles (full-priced) at Truffle.
The 2 Truffle pouches featured in this post were gifted courtesy of One Truffle.
There’s a new Chanel Joues Contraste Powder Blush called Crescendo ($45 for 4 g/0.14 oz, made in France, limited-edition). This is a soft luminous baby pink in the baked formula. For those new to Chanel blushes, in the powder form there are two formulas. Most US-sold blushes are pressed powders while all other countries have blushes in the same color/names but are baked. I almost always prefer the US version since I find the baked ones more sheer in color and quite a bit more powdery in texture. Crescendo seems to perform a bit more like the US versions even though it is baked and had quite a bit of powder kick-up when I dipped a brush into it.
Crescendo is a soft but buildable pink color. I would call it light to medium, leaning more towards medium in color. It looks bright in the compact but applies like a soft sheer pink. There is enough color in the blush that it shows up on my medium skin. It’s a neutral-cool color on me and gives a natural pink flush. It has an airy feel to it with the lightness and brightness the pink has. It’s not shimmery or matte, but rather has a soft luminous satiny finish.
Here it is swatched on the arm:
Comparisons to a few other blushes, note these were swatched with a light to medium hand, using an eyeshadow brush. The colors are all buildable for more pigment.
I found the closest dupe to Chanel Crescendo to be MAC Lovecloud in the pans and swatches, the MAC is slightly more pigmented and darker. I have a number of other older/discontinued Chanel and MAC blushes I suspect are similar that are unfortunately still boxed up (to be organized and put away in makeup drawers and shelves over the next week). Chanel Crescendo is a lovely soft pink but does seem to be something you can easily duplicate, if you own a lot of Chanel blushes I think you can safely skip and shop your stash. That being said, I do think it can be hard to find a good baby pink that has enough brightness in it to bring the skin to life, that isn’t too pale and that also doesn’t darken or look muddy after it warms up on the skin. Crescendo stays put on the skin without turning color and works as a good in between light and bright giving a luminous glow.
Due to the powdery texture, I do think this will look chalky or powdery on your face if you have super dry skin. It works well on mine right now, I always wear moisturizer + foundation + powder, but if you are slightly dry, I’d recommend adding a dewy cream blush or highlighter underneath to help the color adhere better to the skin (something like Edward Bess Sunlight works wonders).
I’m really happy with my purchase even though it is fairly similar to other pinks in how it wears on the face. I bought mine sight unseen from Chanel.com. It’s currently listed as limited-edition.
Did you check out anything from the Collection La Perle de Chanel? What did you end up getting?
I ordered three of the four lip items from the Collection La Perle de Chanel including the Rouge Allure in Virevoltante #158 ($36) and two Aqualumiere Glosses ($30 each) in Tutu #91 and Corset #92 (all limited-edition). All three are pinks with a very spring-like feel. Right now it appears the entire collection is exclusive to Chanel.com and Chanel Boutiques that carry the full beauty line (like Rodeo Drive, NY on 57th Street etc.). It may arrive at counters at a later date but I don’t have any information on release/availability. You may want to refer to the Chanel thread at Specktra for more insight and in-store spotting.
Swatches of the three lip colors (please excuse the misspelling of the rouge allure, should be labeled Virevoltante):
The Rouge Allure in Virevoltante is a creamy raspberry pink color. There is a tiny bit of shimmer in it, much like the secret shimmers in some of the nail lacquers. You see it in the tube, but it doesn’t translate on the lips. This gives the Rouge Allures a beautiful sheen and a bit of dimension. On my lips it’s a cream and although it doesn’t change color once applied (i.e. darken or oxidize), anything with a hint of fuchsia tends to pull very bright on my complexion. The coverage is medium but layer-able. There is no detectable scent from what I can tell. Lasting power is quite good until you touch the lips with a coffee cup or snack. It’s creamy, non-drying and feels very lush on the lips without that overly-moisturizing feel.
The two Aqualumiere Glosses are both very sheer. I’ve purchased quite a few of the glosses in this formula so it was no surprise that these would be almost transparent on the lips. On me they are too sheer to wear alone, but I’ve almost always liked wearing Aqualumiere glosses on top of lipsticks. They had a hint of shine and color without altering your lipstick color too much. They are more enhancing rather than tinting and feel super luxurious and smooth. If you like more color or if you have a lot of sheer glosses, I’d say skip these unless you’re a die-hard Chanel fan. I like these and will use them, but they will probably not be everyone’s cup of tea, especially at the $30 price.
Tutu is a baby pink with the prettiest soft shimmers. Corset is a brighter raspberry pink that has a rather complex mix of pink, rose and some fuchsia shimmers making it look different depending on how the light hits it. Both have a refined shimmer in the color (not frost). They add a lovely glow to the lips and these make mine look full.
There is one more item in the Perle collection for lips which includes this stunning lip palette called the Harmonie Levres Lip Palette in Arabesque ($55 for five rosy-toned lip colors). It was seriously tempting for me but I resisted purchasing it because I rarely use lip palettes, I tend to reach for lipstick tubes instead.
Overall I give the Rouge Allure Lipstick a huge thumbs up. It’s opaque, creamy and has a naturally glossy sheen. I like that it’s a vibrant raspberry pink that isn’t too bright making it wearable for everyday and also for night. I personally adore the Aqualumiere Glosses but the sheerness makes the colors easy to replicate with other lines.
You can find the Collection La Perle de Chanel online now at Chanel.com. All the lip items are limited-edition. If you’ve spotted in store or at counters please share in the comments 🙂
Mysterio Illusion D’Ombre is a platinum silvery color that has a slight hint of khaki and silver mixed in. It’s a color that contrasts with my olive skin making this more dramatic on my medium-toned skin. On my lids it’s extremely sparkly with a dramatic sheen but you can blend out the color easily. I applied with my fingers and upon first swipe on the lids it looks extremely opaque. I’m usually in the 30 range for Chanel foundations. If you are fairer than me I suspect this color will look more sparkly and less dramatic in color on your skin. If you are darker this will look clearly silver. In the pot it looks neutral, on my olive skin it’s more cool-toned. The sparkle and shimmer is very fine and when I applied this with my fingers and a brush I experienced no fall out.
Perle de Lune Stylo Yeux Waterproof is a twist up eyeliner that is a stunning cool-toned grey shimmer. The color is almost blueish with a slight purply tint on my skin, but my olive skin tends to bring out the cool tones in anything silvery colored. This is the most beautiful color I’ve seen in a liner and it’s dark enough that I can actually wear it comfortably as a liner versus some of the lighter silvers that are gorgeous but, well, not something I can wear as a traditional liner. I’ve tried and bought a number of liners in the Chanel Stylo Yeux Waterproof formula and the wear and texture of these pencils is not always consistent. I’ve had a few that felt dry and didn’t glide on the lids well. I know some other bloggers I adore and respect have reported inconsistencies with their liners as well in other shades. I was relieved and pleased to find that the Perle de Lune I ordered glides on the eyes smoothly without any issues. There is no patchiness in the color or tugging with this pencil.
One more swatch shot with some sunlight shining through shows how these colors glow:
A few comparison swatches:
By Terry Ombre Mercure #15, Chanel Illusion D’Ombre in Fantasme, Chanel Illusion D’Ombre in Mysterio, Chanel Illusion D’Ombre in Epatant, Armani Eyes to Kill #9, #19 (discontinued), #4, #17 (discontinued), Laura Mercier Caviar Eye Stick in Moonlight
Urban Decay 24/7 Eyeliner in Underground, Chanel Stylo Yeux in Perle de Lune, Silver Light, Rose Platine, Chanel Le Crayon Yeux in Khaki Platine, Dolce & Gabbana Eyeliner #12 and #15, Burberry Effortless Kohl in Storm Grey, MAC Khol in Dig It! (discontinued)
I’m overall really pleased with both the Mysterio eyeshadow and Perle de Lune eyeliner. They are beautiful easy to wear colors that are perfect for spring and updating your makeup look for the season. For this collection, there are a few other items for the eyes including the Les 4 Ombres in Tisse Rhapsodie (I passed because I know it’s something I won’t wear due to the pastel/purple colors) and Tisse Vendome (repromoted quad, review here).
You can find the Collection La Perle de Chanel online at Chanel.com now. I am still trying to find out if this will show up at counters. If you’ve spotted it, please share in the comments 🙂
Chanel just released new items in the Collection La Perle de Chanel on Chanel.com. I ordered some items at the end of last week and I couldn’t be happier with my picks. The colors are classic Chanel beauties. Here is a quick sneak peek, I’ll have swatches and reviews up today and tomorrow of what I ended up ordering. Above shown from left to right:
Virevolante #158 Rouge Allure (limited-edition)
Crescendo #250 Joues Contraste (limited-edition)
Perle de Lune #916 Stylo Yeux Waterproof (limited-edition)
Mysterio #102 Illusion D’Ombre
Corset #92 and Tutu #91 Aqualumiere Gloss (both limited-edition)
There are some items I did not order that are also in the collection including:
Harmonies Levres Lip Palette (limited-edition)
Tisse Rhapsodie #248 Les 4 Ombres (limited-edition)
Tisse Vendome #204 Les 4 Ombres (repromote, review here)
Inimitable Intense Noir #10 (repromote)
Rouge Coco Baume (repromote)
Right now it appears the collection is exclusive to Chanel.com. I don’t know if counters will be receiving it at a later date. I have read reports that Bergdorf Goodman had the collection in stores. More info and thoughts on the items are on Specktra.net. If you are interested in the items I suggest ordering sooner than later since the colors look like they are almost all limited-edition colors.
