Browsing Category

Uncategorized

Uncategorized

Chantecaille The Glacier Eye Shade Trio and Arctic Rose Hydra Chic Lipstick / Spring 2015

February 17, 2015

For spring Chantecaille has launched a palette called The Glacier Eye Shade Trio ($70 for 7 g/0.25 oz, made in USA). I picked this up at my local  Chantecaille counter and saw a few lip items featured on the new display. There are two Galactic Lip Shine Lip Glosses ($34 each) in Aurora (sheer pink) and Polaris (sparkling white) and two Hydra Chic Lipsticks ($36 each) in Arctic Rose and Saxifrage. I haven’t been up to speed with Chantecaille for a while so I’m not entirely sure if the colors are new or repromoted colors. I picked up the Glacier Eye Shade Trio and Arctic Rose Hydra Chic Lipstick. Thoughts, review and swatches below.

First, here is the palette and lipstick swatches side by side:

Chantecaille eyeshadow palettes are usually beautifully designed with natural-looking eye shadows. In my experience the trios I’ve bought and tested have sheer to medium pigment for a super natural look. My one rant is that they often come with an overspray which is easily removed, but it makes it difficult to see what the true color is if you order sight unseen. The Glacier Eye Shade Trio is a super soft palette of neutrals. The colors include, from left to right, a sheer to medium matte flesh/tan, an iridescent ivory that flashes gold and some champagne, a shimmering medium brown-grey. The colors when used together will create a softly defined eye that is perfect for an everyday look if you want an ultra conservative no-makeup look. I personally prefer something with richer pigment and coverage. The shades are layerable but are still ultra soft leaning more towards the sheer side. If you’re a fan of Chantecaille eyeshadows, I think you will really like this. If you’re like me and need more color, you will find pigment and coverage lacking.

With patches of overspray removed:

Swatch comparisons below to a couple other neutral palettes. Shown below next to Chanel Tisse Mademoiselle (reviewed here) and Hourglass Infinity Palette (reviewed here). I personally prefer the Chanel for something similar and with more coverage and I found the Chanel extremely natural on the eyes.

For the lips, I picked up Arctic Rose Hydra Chic Lipstick. This is an ultra moisturizing lip color with a glossy finish. I have mixed feelings about Arctic Rose in terms of formula. It has a beautiful color, naturally glossy sheen and feels amazing on the lips but the pigment is lacking. This one requires a lot of layering for me to get even and full coverage. I didn’t find it to be a good swipe and go kind of lipstick and there was missing pigment and color around the edges of my lips when I applied straight from the tube. I am a huge fan of sheer lip colors like MAC Lustres, Chanel Rouge Coco Shines, YSL Volupte Shines and even the Rouge Baume Diors – but I find they are easier to apply and give even coverage while the Chantecaille did not. That being said I do think it will wear very well over a lipliner or if you apply with a lip brush.

Here it is packed on the lips quite heavily. I’m not sure if you can tell in the photo, but around the edges, especially on the upper lip it did not apply evenly.

The Chantecaille spring collection offers nice natural colors. If you’re a fan of the super natural look, I think you will find these are perfect for you. Long-time readers know I’m one who gravitates towards natural looking colors, but I found the formulas of the Chantecaille spring line too sheer for my taste. I do think they are worth checking out though – many have commented on the lack of natural satiny or non-shimmer shadows on the market. If you’re forever searching for eyeshadow palettes that have a more natural looking finish, the Glacier Eye Trio is definitely worth looking into. My quick take, I should have probably passed on both, but somethings pretty packaging gets the best of me.

I bought my Chantecaille items from Neiman Marcus. Note there are a number of beauty events going on right now, so if you have a wish list or shopping list that is growing, be sure to check out the gift with purchases offered now. Some promos to consider:
  • Neiman Marcus beauty week, Eddie Borgo designed tote with samples, with $125+ purchase, Chantecaille gift with a $200+ purchase, details here (available thru March 1 or while supplies last)
  • Saks Fifth Avenue beauty week gift with $125 purchase includes tote + samples use code BEAUTYW2, Chantecaille gift with a $200+ purchase using code CHANTE62, details on gift here (available thru March 1 or while supplies last)
  • Space NK beauty event gift bag for 1 day, February 18th (details to come later today)

Chantecaille is also available at Nordstrom, Barneys New York, Bloomingdales, Chantecaille.com.
11 Comments
Uncategorized

Victoria, Victoria Beckham x Nails Inc. Duo in Bamboo White and Judo Red

February 16, 2015

Several readers have mentioned the Victoria, Victoria Beckham x Nails Inc. polishes to me over the past few months. Nails Inc. is a nail polish line that has been on my radar for quite some time but I tend to get distracted while in Sephora and usually forget to swatch and play with items in store. I ordered the Victoria, Victoria Beckham for Nails Inc. Duo Collection ($45 for 2 full-sized polishes, each 14 ml/0.47 fl oz, Made in France) online from Sephora. Both are available for purchase individually as well, but the duo is offered at a slight discount and also comes in a beautiful white box.

The two colors in the Victoria Beckham x Nails Inc. are called Bamboo White and Judo Red. Both are glossy lush creams that offer full opaque coverage with two coats. The first coat did not cover the nail entirely but was still relatively smooth, the pigment was just a bit streaky. Adding a second coat resulted in a rich opaque color for both shades. In addition to testing out the polishes for the first time, I also picked up the Kensington Caviar Base Coat and Kensington Caviar 45 Second Top Coat. I have been running low on my current go-to’s from Deborah Lippmann, Chanel and Rescue Beauty Lounge and since the Base/Top Coat from Nails Inc. have impressive reviews and high ratings I decided to try both.

Bamboo White is more of a powder pink on me. Even though it’s pale, it’s a stretch to call this one white. The color is quite lovely on the nails and flatters the skin tone nicely. It’s not too powdery in color like some pale pinks can be. Lasting power with the Nails Inc. Base + Top Coat was impressive. The top coat did indeed dry in 45 seconds although I did let the color dry for a couple minutes in between coats and about 5 minutes after the second coat. My manicure lasted 5 days before I started to see any tip wear. There was no flaking, chipping or peeling. The brush is on the medium to large side but slightly tapered making it easy to apply near the nail beds.

With two coats:

Judo Red is a warm orangey tomato red. On me the orange tones are visible enough that it looks like the perfect mix of orange and red. It reminds me of Chanel Holiday but with more opaque coverage and less of a jelly finish. I have this on the toes right now and it has held up really well over the past week. On the hands it’s pretty vibrant brightening color. Here it is with two coats:

I’m in the middle of working on major closet/makeup/storage reorganization so I didn’t have time to pull out polishes for comparisons. Several others have asked for my thoughts on these commenting they did not know if these were worth the purchase since the colors look so dupable. I agree with their assessment in the sense that these aren’t the most unique colors, you can definitely find others that are similar. I do think that the formula is impressive (and I have extremely high expectations when it comes to nail polish). Pale pinks are almost always hard for me to give a thumbs up to because I find the formulas streaky or colors too white in color. I did expect Bamboo White to be more of a white/cream color instead of pink – but the formula and coverage is really good so I am giving it a thumbs up.

I’ll be playing more with the Nails Inc. Base and Top Coats over the next few weeks to see how they work with other brands and give an updated review next month. So far I’m very impressed. I hope it’s compatible with other brands of polish because the wear on these manicures was crazy good.

Bottom line, if you’re looking for polished classic creams that have extremely good wear and long lasting power, the Victoria, Victoria Beckham x Nails Inc. Duo is worth a look. The formula and application are flawless. However if you’re looking for unique colors, you may want to pass.

I bought my polishes from Sephora. The collection is also available online at Nordstrom, Saks Fifth Avenue (Saks promo online for a full-sized Brick Red polish with a $35+ order use code NAILS2 at checkout, while supplies last) and Nails Inc.
Have you tried anything from Nails Inc. before? What are your favorites?
13 Comments
Uncategorized

Valentine’s Day Pink for Lips

February 12, 2015

This week I’m loving all shades of pink for the lips, in preparation for Valentine’s Day I’ve compiled a list of new pinks that I’ve been testing along with some older favorites. Today’s focus is on lip glosses with a glossy sheen that will give the lips a lush glow.

  • Marc Jacobs Lust for Lacquer Lip Vinyl Sheer in Pink Diamond is a glossy sheer pink gold that gives the lips a tint of gold and pink, right now it seems to be removed from Sephora and Marc Jacobs Beauty so I’m not sure if these are being phased out or reformulated, for a similar effect check out MAC Nympette Lipglass
  • Clarins Instant Light Natural Lip Perfector in Rose Shimmer 01 is a sheer light pink balm-like gloss, on the lips it gives a sheer natural wash of light pink with a tiny bit of shimmer, it has a soft vanilla scent
  • NARS Lip Gloss in Turkish Delight is a super pale powdery pink gloss, on my super pigmented lips this is high maintenance when worn alone, I find it’s best worn as a layering lipgloss mainly because I have a lot of color in my lips
  • Zelens Lip Glaze in Rose is a lush baby pink cream, I have a hard time pulling off baby pinks on the lips that are non-shimmers, they are often too pale on my lip but this one was surprisingly good, it’s pricey for a lip gloss but the texture and color are really really good, coverage is medium
  • Bite Beauty Lush Fruit Gloss in Strawberry is something I bought in the mini size over the holiday, this is the first Bite Lip Gloss I’ve tried and the color is absolute perfection for the perfect light-to-medium rose pink but the formula is less than stellar. I wonder if this is one of those glosses you need to “break in” with a few wears to make the formula better, it settled into lip lines like crazy which is a shame because the color and pigment is so pretty
  • Laura Mercier Lip Glace in Pink Pop is sheer bright pink gloss perfection, I love a good bright lip gloss that has a sheer texture because they give the lips just enough color to get that glow, this one has a very strong vanilla scent so if you’re sensitive to fragrance, you might not be able to wear this one easily
  • Giorgio Armani Flash Lacquer in 521 is a sheer medium cool-toned pink, it’s very sheer so alone it will give you a very subtle tint of color, it’s lovely over a lipstick or lipliner 
  • NARS Lip Gloss in Angelika is a bright cool-toned pink with gold flecks of shimmer, this one is a pretty azalea pink kind of color with medium coverage
  • Hourglass Extreme Sheen Lip Gloss in Ballet is a lipgloss that acts more like a liquid lipstick, this one has crazy intense pigment and covers the lip entirely, if you want a glossy bright pink with super rich coverage, this is the best one I’ve tried
  • MAC Viva Glam Miley Cyrus is a super fun glitzy pink, I’m usually ultra conservative when it comes to anything with visible sparkles that is more than just shimmer, but this one is really pretty on the lips, I’m not sure that I would be able to rock this comfortably everyday, but it’s not too glitzy if you layer a sheer wash of this on top of a lipstick
  • Zelens Lip Glaze in Pink is a healthy medium-bright pink, it has medium coverage leaning slightly more towards full but still has a glossy finish so it’s not like a liquid lipstick, it’s like Laura Mercier’s Pink Pop amped up a few notches in terms of pigment and oomph, I highly recommend the formula because it plumps the lips naturally and feels ultra hydrating and smooth
  • Chanel Glossimer in Crazy Fuchsia is part of the spring collection, it’s a super pigmented glossimer that has the prettiest mix of pink, violet and rose shimmers, long-time readers know I’m all about lighter neutral lips, but this one is just insanely gorgeous

Lip swatches on me (for reference some of these were taken over different days, foundations worn include the NARS All Day Weightless Luminous Foundation in Punjab and Tom Ford Traceless Perfecting Foundation in Bisque 04 with various setting powders):

I hope you found this lip gloss guide helpful in terms of picking out pink lip glosses with a diverse range of finishes, textures and different levels of color. To narrow down my top picks by category:

Favorite sheer light pink:
Clarins Instant Light Perfector in Rose Shimmer and Zelens Rose Lip Glaze
Favorite medium pink:
Laura Mercier Pink Pop and Zelens Pink Lip Glaze
Most unique:
Chanel Crazy Fuchsia Glossimer

This is by no means a comprehensive of all the pink lip glosses I’ve tried or adore, but rather an edited version of what I’ve been testing or using right now. What are your favorite pink lip glosses?

The Zelens Lip Glazes, Hourglass Extreme Sheen Lip Gloss and Laura Mercier Lip Glace were provided as press samples for review consideration, all others purchased by me.

32 Comments
Uncategorized

Skincare Treats and Splurges

February 11, 2015

Following this month’s theme of “treat yourself,” today I’m sharing some of my favorite skincare treats and splurges. I’ll highlight some items I view as game-changers based on what I’ve tested focusing on things I believe are worth the splurge to pamper the skin. For a bit of background on my skin, I have normal but sensitive skin. This winter it leans on the slightly dry side, but still is relatively normal. I’m in my early 30’s right now and a year ago, my skin went through some changes with major break outs causing some scars and texture issues. I spent the last year working to streamline my skincare routine and am really thankful that it’s returned to it’s normal state over the past few months. I’ll be sharing more about my skincare routine later, but for today I want to highlight items I feel are good for pampering. 

Up first is sunscreen. I’ve always hated wearing sunscreen on the face because of the strong sunscreen scent or greasy feel. I don’t like wearing layers of product under my foundation and powder and since I’ve always spent the majority of my day indoors I thought it was pointless to wear extra sunscreen. So many have emphasized the importance of protecting your skin and wearing sunscreen has become a priority. Unfortunately, I since I can’t tolerate the sunscreen smell, I have had to splurge on sunscreen for the face. Three that I really like that won’t turn the face white and that don’t have that traditional sunscreen smell include:

1 / Clarins UV Plus HP Multi-Protection Day Screen SPF 40  ($41 for 1.7 oz) is my latest sunscreen discovery. It’s a lightweight white fluid that has a semi-matte feel. I picked this up because of recommendations from friends and also wanted to take advantage of the Nordstrom gift with purchase going on right now (details here). I like that it doesn’t feel runny or have that greasy fluid feel. It stays put and doesn’t feel like you have anything on the skin. Straight out of the bottle there is a very faint fresh linen-like scent but once on the face, there is no detectable scent. I love that it doesn’t turn the face white.

2 / Chanel UV Essentiel Complete Sunscreen UV Protection SPF 50 ($55 for 1 fl oz) is something I’ve used for years. Chanel has three different sunscreens with SPF 20, 30 and 50. This is a lightweight product that is very fluid. The color is also white but it’s transparent on the skin. I’ve used and repurchased this numerous times because it layers well over moisturizer and under foundation. My husband and I have shared this for years. This one is heavily fragranced though, so if you have a super sensitive nose and can’t wear fragranced skincare products, you may want to skip this one.

3 / Shiseido Urban Environment Tinted UV Protector Broad Spectrum SPF 43 ($32 for 1 fl oz) is something I discovered a couple months ago. I adore Shiseido as a skincare line, but was really disappointed to find almost all their facial sunscreens left a white cast on my skin. Since I wear medium to full coverage foundation daily, it didn’t really matter in the end, however, I prefer sunscreens and skincare that doesn’t leave a white residue on the skin. This one comes in three colors which makes it the perfect tint + sunscreen in one. The color selection is pretty limited but the color is sheer enough to be quite forgiving on the face. I found Shade No. 2 to be the best match although for an exact match I’m really in between No. 2 and 3. It’s a lightweight sheer coverage tint that can be worn as a base for your regular makeup. 

Next up includes facial cotton and cleansing water. Both of which aren’t really necessities but these three have been life-changing for me.

4 / Cle de Peau Beaute Cotton ($20 for 120 pads) is hands down the best facial cotton I’ve tried. It comes in a box which keeps the cotton’s shape in tact. I used to use Shiseido’s facial cotton for years, but a friend insisted I try the ones by Cle de Peau and the difference is really noticeable. The Cle de Peau is sturdier and larger in size compared to other cotton. It’s soft, silky, doesn’t separate and glides on the skin without leaving any cotton remnants or fibers on the face. It’s the ultimate luxurious splurge for the skin and I can’t recommend it enough.

5 / Caudalie Cleansing Water ($14 for 3.38 fl oz) is a classic favorite for me. This refreshes the skin and cleanses it gently. I wouldn’t recommend using it in place of a cleanser on a regular basis, but I like to use this to remove all my makeup at the end of the day and then follow up with a regular cleanser if I have long-wear foundation or powder on. It doesn’t irritate the skin and does a good job at removing makeup (not eye makeup/mascara though). 

6 / Koh Gen Do Cleansing Spa Water ($39 for 10.15 fl oz) is the best cleansing water I’ve tried. I’ve tried lots of different cleansing waters from NARS, Dior, Lancome etc. and the Koh Gen Do is my most repurchased cleansing water. I’ve found it’s the most effective but is still very gentle on the skin. It’s definitely worth the splurge.

Testing out masks can be very expensive. For me it’s hard to splurge on a $50+ box of sheet masks or any mask in general unless I can test a small sample first, so I’ve relied on online reviews and blog reviews heavily before splurging. Four skin pampers I adore:

7 / Kiehl’s Clearly Corrective™ Clarifying & Hydrating Intensive Treatment Masque ($58 for 6 sheets, 0.85 oz each) is a surprisingly good sheet mask that I think is highly under-rated. I don’t know why it’s a limited-edition product or exclusive to Nordstrom because it’s amazing. I’ve tried a number of sheet masks and this one is very gentle but makes a visible difference in the texture, appearance and clarity of the skin. After use your face is left hydrated and super soft.

8 / SK-II Facial Treatment Mask ($17 for 1 sheet, or $135 for a 10 pack) is something that has reached cult-status but is an extremely expensive splurge. I resisted buying the box for a long time because I couldn’t justify spending that much on a mask without having tested it. I took the plunge a year ago and have no regrets. Due to the price tag, I do try to limit use to one per month. If you’ve been interested in this but didn’t want to splurge without testing, the good news is that they now offer this mask in a 1 sheet option for $17. There are a number of good sheet masks on the market, the SK-II is my favorite in terms of how it leaves the skin glowing.

9 / Glamglow Super-Mud Clearing Treatment ($69 for 1.2 oz) is something I discovered last August. It’s one of my top picks for clarifying masks that is super effective at drawing out impurities from the pores. I like that you can feel it work on the face but it’s still gentle enough for my super sensitive skin. I’ve repurchased this four times since my initial purchase – it’s that good. Use for this one varies for me from 1 to 3 times per week. I like that it’s non-irritating.

10 / Thirstymud Hydrating Treatment ($69 for 1.7 oz) is something I discovered thanks to my readers. I had a couple mini sample packets from gift with purchase events but was a bit nervous about testing this one. A number of readers recommended that I use the Supermud first and then follow with the Thirstymud right after for the ultimate at-home facial treatment. I tried this and it’s pure genius. It seemed a bit odd to apply something to dry out the skin and then apply something right after to put the moisture back in the skin, but the combination is really quite amazing. To those who recommended this tip to me, THANK YOU!!

For face mists, I’ve used the MAC Fix+ for years but it is extremely lightweight. It’s a good basic refresher for mid-day or even to prep the skin for foundation but there are others I’ve tried that are better in terms of how they impact the skin.

11 / Caudalie Beauty Elixir ($18 for 1 oz) is the ultimate spa-like facial mist. Spraying it on the face instantly lifts the mood and makes you feel like your skin has gone through a mini facial. It is heavily fragranced with a minty touch so I know it won’t appeal to all. I personally really like it. It cools and refreshes the skin and pores will tighten with this spray. I like that it doesn’t interfere with your makeup. My mom really likes this one too.

12 / La Mer “The Mist” ($65 for 3.4 oz) is an amazing facial spray. It dispenses a fine mist that is fragrance free. It’s really good at calming any redness or irritation and suitable for super sensitive skin. The packaging makes this well worth the splurge – the spritzer dispenses a perfect spritz of mist evenly over the face. If you’re in the market for an unfragranced face mist that refreshes the face, this is a good one to look at.

13 / Chanel Hydra Beauty Essence Mist ($90 for 1.7 oz) is something that has been on my radar for a long long time. It’s used on me at almost every Chanel makeover I’ve had. I couldn’t bring myself to splurge on it. For me it’s the best thing you can splurge on for a face mist – but it’s still quite a splurge. If this were priced at the $60-$65 price point I would say hands down “you need this.” At the $90 price point it’s a stretch and for me it was hard for me to part with that much money for something this size. This is one of those products I really adore but I do believe it’s overpriced. Am I happy I bought this? Absolutely yes. Will I repurchase? I don’t know.

I hope you found this roundup of skincare treats and splurges helpful. As always I’d love to hear about your skincare favorites. What do you like to use to pamper or protect your skin to give it that extra love and care?

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

33 Comments
Uncategorized

On Instagram

February 4, 2015

January flew by so quickly, I didn’t have time to compile a list of things for a dedicated monthly beauty favorites. Most of what I’ve been loving have been older favorites versus new beauty discoveries. There were so many good things but the top five favorites off the top of my head include:

NARS Inoubliable Coup D’Oeil Palette (review)
Dior Lady Gel-Shine Vernis Nail Lacquer (swatches)
Tom Ford Lips & Boys in Peter and Addison (review here)
Malin + Goetz Lip Balm (review and favs here)
Jo Malone Cardamom and Moroccan Rose Candle (review)

For those who follow me on Instagram @beautylookbook – a quick thank you to each and every one of you who take the time to like and comment on my photos! It makes my day every day to see such sweet and truly thoughtful comments from so many of you.

Have a great Wednesday!
10 Comments
Uncategorized

Net-A-Porter Beauty Valentine’s Day Kit

February 3, 2015

This year Net-A-Porter Beauty has a limited-edition Valentine’s Day Kit ($65) with nine luxury sampler-size beauty treats for skin, hair and makeup. The Net-A-Porter team was kind enough to send one as a surprise and after playing with the deluxe sized items, I can say this is a real treat. Pre-made kits can be hit or miss because we all have different tastes, preferences and likes. I have to say, Net-A-Porter did a really good job with this one. If you’re looking to treat yourself or a friend, this has really good picks.

Inside the Valentine’s Day Kit as shown in the above photo from left to right, with thoughts on each item (for reference, full ingredient listing on each product is online at Net-A-Porter):

  • Charlotte Tilbury Magic Cream Mini (15 ml/ 0.5 fl. oz.) is a rich moisturizer cream that isn’t greasy. I have the full size although I don’t think I’ve reviewed it, I’ve found it to be very good and non-irritating for my sensitive acne-prone skin. It hydrates the skin nicely and a little goes a long way. I like that it helps balance the skin with dry and oily parts and it’s also a good skin prep product for foundation (creams, powders, liquids, compacts etc.) The only downside is that it has a strong sunscreen scent that I’m not a fan of, however it does fade after five minutes. I’m thrilled to have a mini of this because now I can travel with it.
  • Bambford Geranium Hand and Body Wash (50 ml/ 1.7 fl. oz.) is a strongly scented body wash with geranium, lavender and peppermint. It smells like a spa in a bottle. It’s very soothing and relaxing for the bath. It lathers up to a nice foam and leaves the skin feeling soft and very refreshed.
  • Jurlique Nutri-Define Retexturizing Serum (15 ml/ 0.5 fl. oz.) is the only item in the kit I haven’t tested, primarily because I’m in the middle of testing other face products at the moment. It’s supposed to be a firming and lifting skin product – if you’ve tried this one I’d love to hear your thoughts.
  • LAFCO Chamomille Lavender Soap (130 ml/ 4.5 oz.) has a bright refreshing scent that smells like a garden. There is a sweetness to it that makes it feel lightweight. I’m not typically a fan of bar soaps but this is a nice one to have in your bathroom or guest room. It makes me feel like I’m on vacation.
  • Radical Skincare Instant Revitalizing Mask (30 ml/4.5 oz.) is something that has been on my radar for a while so this kit came at the perfect time. This is one of the most fun things I’ve played with in terms of face masks. It’s a quick and easy 3-5 minute face product (huge plus). It’s a creamy liquid that turns into a white foam on the face. Once on, it foams up and bubbles with tiny little pops (don’t worry it’s ultra gentle). You rinse it off after having it on the face for a short period of time and it leaves the skin glowing and feeling completely hydrated/refreshed. 
  • Serge Normant Meta Sheer Dry Finish Oil (50 ml/1.7 fl. oz.) smells incredible. I’ve been a huge fan of the Serge Normant hair care line, their shampoos and conditioners are extremely good, although on the pricey end. The Sheer Dry Finish Oil is a spray product that adds shine and texture. I like that it’s a lightweight product that doesn’t weigh down the hair or make it look greasy. I’ve been spraying it on both damp and dry hair and it adds a nice natural shine.
  • Eyeko Mini Black Magic Mascara (4 ml/ 0.13 fl. oz.) is something new to me. I’ve never tried anything from Eyeko before. This is a mini black mascara that is super rich in color and adheres well to the lashes. It takes a bit of combing to get this to apply evenly on my lashes, otherwise they look a bit spidery. Once you comb the product, I found it added nice volume and color. It stayed put all day without flaking or smudging. The only downsides are the effort it took me to get it to look even (it didn’t clump, it just separated my lashes too much) and it is pretty hard to remove in the evening. 
  • Anastasia Mini Clear Brow Gel (2.5 ml/ 0.08 fl. oz.) is something I haven’t tried in a long time. I received a small sample gift with purchase years ago before I did anything to my brows. I’m glad this kit made me revisit it. It’s a clear brow gel that actually holds my brows in place without making them look crunchy.
  • Hourglass Veil Mineral Primer (5 ml/ 0.16 fl. oz.) has reached cult status with many. I’m always happy to get a mini for travel. It’s a good one that keeps foundation in place and prevents it from sliding on warm weather days. The only downside for me is that it does give a white cast to my skin. Since I opt for medium to full coverage foundations the white tint isn’t a problem, although I do wish they would make options with some color.

Bottom line this kit is a winner. I feel super pampered as I’ve been using something new from the kit each night for the past week. I’m going to replenishing with full sizes of the Serge Normant, Anastasia Brow Gel and Radical Mask for sure once the samples are used up.

Some more beauty kits on Net-A-Porter. The By Terry Baume de Rose set is amazing, review here. I also ordered the mini Byredo Candle set, I’ll be reviewing them as soon as they arrive.

The Net-A-Porter Valentine’s Day Kit was provided courtesy of Net-A-Porter for review consideration. More information about my disclosures here.

6 Comments