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Bronzer

Bronzer + Blush Hermes Beauty

Hermes Plein Air H Trio Mineral Powder Bronzer + Iridescent Highlighters

March 14, 2023

Hermes Plein Air H Trio Mineral Powder

Hermes just launched their Plein Air H Trio Healthy Glow Mineral Bronzing Powders ($105) and Iridescent Powders ($105) in the US and I am so excited to have a review to share today. I fell in love almost immediately with the product description and demo video on the Hermes website. The powders looked perfect for that effortless healthy sunkissed glow and I was eager to put these to the test.

Given that these are extremely expensive I was surprised to find that many of the shades have sold out at a lot of retailers. Depending on which shade you want you may have to do some shopping around but they are available at Hermes, Nordstrom, Saks Fifth Avenue, Bloomingdale’s and Neiman Marcus to name a few places.

These powders have 3 shades in one compact in a beautiful embossed H pattern. I have to say I was pleasantly surprised to see the compacts are larger than the other Hermes powders with 18 g of product. They are scented similar to the Rose Hermes blushes (reviewed here) but the scent dissipates after a while and I don’t notice it when it’s on the skin.

Plein Air H Trio Healthy Glow Mineral Powder

Hermes Plein Air H Trio Mineral Powder Bronzer 02 Atlas, 03 Sahara, 04 Sienne

There are 5 shades of the Plein Air H Trio Healthy Glow Mineral Powder and I ordered three shades to try. These have a beautiful silky texture with very good pigment, no excess powdery kick up, no hard-pan and apply beautifully on the skin.

I was really impressed with the level of pigment – they show up really well but at the same time are really easy to blend and sheer out. There is a tiny bit of shimmer in these but it’s more like subtle flecks of shimmer spread out on a matte base so on the skin they really look more matte.

Hermes Plein Air H Trio Mineral Powder Bronzer 02 Atlas, 03 Sahara, 04 Sienne swatches

Looks below wearing:

02 Atlas

02 Atlas is a warm light bronze, this pulls warm on my skin when used as a bronzer, I like this better as a soft contour to warm up the skin instead, wearing this with the Hermesistible Lip Oil in 02 Corail Bigarade (swatched here) on the lips

Hermes Plein Air H Trio Mineral Powder Bronzer 02 Atlas

Hermes Plein Air H Trio Mineral Powder Bronzer 02 Atlas

________

03 Sahara

03 Sahara is the best shade for me out of the three, this is a medium tan, on the lips wearing Lisa Eldridge Gloss Embrace in Charm

Hermes Plein Air H Trio Mineral Powder Bronzer 03 Sahara

Hermes Plein Air H Trio Mineral Powder Bronzer 03 Sahara

________

04 Sienne

04 Sienne is a deeper bronze, also warm and pulls reddish on me, lips are Lawless Forget the Filler in Cherry Vanilla

Hermes Plein Air H Trio Mineral Powder Bronzer 04 Sienne

Hermes Plein Air H Trio Mineral Powder Bronzer 04 Sienne

Below swatched next to:

Hermes bronzer swatch comparisons to Charlotte Tilbury, Gucci and Chanel

Plein Air H Trio Iridescent Mineral Powder

Hermes Plein Air H Trio Iridescent Mineral Powder

There are two variations of the Plein Air H Trio Iridescent Mineral Powder. Both have three different shades of highlighter in one compact. I swatched them individually and swirled and also next to the Plein Air Powder I just reviewed in Mirage.

Hermes Plein Air H Trio Iridescent Mineral Powder swatches

On my medium tan skin these pull very light/pale. Pigment is medium but easy to control so you can get a sheer glow or a more intense highlight. These are very powdery and there was a lot of powdery kick up all over (even in my hair). I would recommend applying with a light hand. Both seem to have sold out everywhere except the Hermes website.

01 Rose Atacama

01 Rose Atacama is a mix of icy white, medium soft nude pink and a cool pink. On my skin this pulls very frosty since it’s contrasted with my skin. Since there is such a sharp contrast I found it highlighted my pores and texture. The Charlotte Tilbury Glow Glide Highlighter in Pillow Talk Glow is better suited for my skin tone as it’s not as white/icy (review here). Wearing it on top of the Bronzer Shade 02 Atlas and Hermesistible Lip Oil in 02 Corail Bigarade.

Hermes Plein Air H Trio Iridescent Mineral Powder 01 Rose Atacama

 

Hermes Plein Air H Trio Iridescent Mineral Powder 01 Rose Atacama

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02 Corail Mojave

I found 02 Corail Mojave more unique and better for my skin tone. This also pulls very shimmery with an icy white champagne, pale gold and orange copper shimmer. When swirled it’s more of a soft champagne gold. I didn’t have time to swatch comparisons but color is somewhere in between Charlotte Tilbury Glow Glide Highlighters in Champagne Glow and Gilded Glow (the CT ones have more pop to them, more swatches here). Bobbi Brown Highlighting Powder in Peach Glow is more sparkly. Dior Nude Glow is more complex and slightly warmer.

Below wearing it on top of 03 Sahara Bronzer.

Hermes Plein Air H Trio Iridescent Mineral Powder 02 Corail Mojave

 

Hermes Plein Air H Trio Iridescent Mineral Powder 02 Corail Mojave

Overall I think the bronzers are the stand out for me with a silky smooth texture, natural finish and large compact size. I like Sahara the best for my skin tone.

The highlighters are stunning, but not a must for me. Shade 01 is too pale for my skin tone, even with a light hand. Shade 02 is beautiful but given the vast number of highlighters I own, I don’t think I could call it a must-have.

If you’ve been looking at these online and don’t have a counter to try, I hope you found this review helpful!

Available at Hermes, Nordstrom, Bloomingdale’s, Saks and Neiman Marcus.

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Will you be trying these?

Bronzer + Blush

Gucci Eclat Soleil Bronzing Powder Review

July 31, 2020

Gucci Bronzing Powder Review | The Beauty Look Book

I ordered some of the new Gucci Poudre De Beaute Eclat Soleil Bronzing Powders ($62 each for 12 g/0.42 oz available at Sephora) recently and have fallen completely in love with them! There are currently five shades available and I decided to try the lightest three options Shades 01, 02 and 03. These Gucci bronzing powders are packaged in the most beautiful mirrored compact with a gold and turquoise design. Each bronzer has a bottom compartment for a small flat brush to apply the product. Although I prefer larger full sized brushes, the mini compact brush is actually functional to apply the product on the face (I normally don’t use the compact brushes).

The bronzer texture is soft and powdery. Pigment is sheer-medium in coverage but buildable. Each color I tried performed well. They didn’t look muddy or turn orange or darken The only semi-negative thing I can say about these is that they have a strong floral powder scent. It’s not a deal breaker for me and after it’s on the skin the scent fades and I don’t notice it anymore.

Lasting power is quite good. I think these are solid winners even though they are fairly expensive. The bronzing powder also come with a small pink pouch so you can protect the compact from getting scratched if you want to put it in a makeup bag.

Gucci Eclat Soleil Bronzing Powder

Shade 01, 02 and 03:

Gucci Eclat Soleil Bronzing Powder Shade 01, 02 and 03

Gucci Eclat Soleil Bronzing Powder swatches

_________

Gucci Bronzer Shade 01

Shade 01 is a matte lighter cooler-toned brown with pinkish undertones (similar to Tom Ford Terra).

Gucci Eclat Soleil Bronzing Powder Shade 01

Look wearing:

Gucci Bronzing Powder Shade 01, Lip Balm in No More Orchids

_________

Gucci Bronzer Shade 02

Shade 02 is a medium neutral cool-toned brown with subtle shimmer (this one looks deeper than Shade 03).

Gucci Eclat Soleil Bronzing Powder Shade 02

Shade 02 Bronzer with Sheer Lipstick in The Painted Veil

Gucci Eclat Soleil Bronzing Powder Shade 02, The Painted Veil Sheer Lipstick

_________

Gucci Bronzer Shade 03

Shade 03 is a light-medium warm golden bronze with gold shimmer.

Gucci Eclat Soleil Bronzing Powder Shade 03

Below wearing Bronzer Shade 03 with the Satin Lipstick in No More Orchids

Gucci Eclat Soleil Bronzing Powder Shade 03 with Satin Lipstick in No More Orchids

For those who have asked, comparison swatches to the Tom Ford Soleil Glow Bronzer in Terra and Gold Dust, NARS Bronzing Powders in Laguna and Casino and the Kosas Sun Show Bronzers.

Bronzer Swatches Gucci, NARS, Tom Ford, Kosas

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Lips – No More Orchids in the Satin Lipstick and Lip Balm Formulas

Gucci Lipstick and Lip Balm in No More Orchids

left is the Satin Lipstick, right is the Lip Balm, nail color is Essie Wearing Hue?

Last I wanted to share a look at two lip formulas in the color No More Orchids. Gucci launched this color in a Satin Formula to coincide with the launch of the bronzers. It’s a vibrant hot pink with a medium coverage creamy finish. There’s a soft shine to it like a classic lipstick. I actually prefer the No More Orchids Balm Formula which is a sheer hot cool pink. It’s not quite as blue-based or sharp on my medium tan olive skintone and works better for my complexion. To me the colors are pretty much the same but the pigment changes how it looks on the lips.

I ordered a few other colors a while ago but haven’t had a chance to test them. I do have and love the shade The Painted Veil in the sheer finish for a warmer pink (also worn in my Gucci Mascara review here).

Gucci Lipstick and Balm swatches No More Orchids

Gucci Bronzer Powder Review and Swatches

Overall I really like the bronzers I hauled! If you’re like me and don’t really like true mattes you’ll love these. They have a subtle glow to them so they won’t look flat on the skin. They’re easy to wear and don’t look muddy on the skin. I like that they’re soft in texture and easy to build/blend. I have no regrets with my purchases although I can’t say the colors must-haves since they aren’t super unique. I see similarities with other brands and formulas so I do think they are easy to dupe. Still I think they performed well and were worth the splurge. I love the packaging and if you don’t mind the floral scent, I think you will probably like them too.

Have you checked out the Gucci Bronzers yet? What did you think? I bought mine from Sephora the day they launched. They’ve since sold out and restocked (once I think) and some colors have sold out again. You can also find these at Gucci and Selfridges.

MAC

MAC Patrick Starrr Summer Starrr Full Face Kit + Hot and Heavy Face Powder

June 17, 2018

MAC Patrick Starrr Summer Starrr Collection Review + Swatches | The Beauty Look Book

MAC has quite a few new launches this month and I’m working as quickly as I can to swatch them for you! Up first is the MAC Patrick Starrr summer collection with the Summer Starrr Full Face Kit ($49.50) and Hot and Heavy Face Powder ($34). The items are limited-edition and the whole vibe of this launch is warm.

The Summer Starrr Full Face Kit comes at an incredible value price. You get an Eyeshadow Quad called Heat Stroke, Bronzing Powder in Give Me Life and two Lipglasses in Cream Pie and Fashion Punch. Colors for the lips and cheeks are very wearable for any skintone, the quad is more trendy and VERY warm with reds and oranges. Heat Stroke has four very pigmented and smooth eyeshadows. I’m one who still cannot really pull off the full-on reddish eyeshadow trend although every single one of my friends embraces it. And also everyone else I see wear it looks AMAZING while I do not. The NARSissist Wanted Eyeshadow Palette is still one of the few pinkish-toned palettes I can actually wear. Below is a closer look at Heat Stroke Eyeshadow quad. I tried it a number of ways and colors are just not for me.

MAC Patrick Starrr Summer Starrr Heat Stroke Eyeshadow Quad

MAC Patrick Starrr Summer Starrr Heat Stroke Eyeshadow Quad swatches

The Lipglasses are both light and neutral. They’re creams without shimmer. I feel like the Fashion Punch color has been launched before in the older original packaging. It’s a beige cream. Cream Pie is a neutral pink cream. I’ve swatched them below next to the Patrick Starrr Holiday 2017 lipglasses as well since he had two neutrals.

MAC Summer Starrr Lipglass Fashion Punch and Cream Pie swatches

MAC Summer Starrr Lipglass Fashion Punch and Cream Pie vs You Betta Werrrk and Mamastarrr

MAC Summer Starrr Lipglass Cream Pie and Fashion Punch swatches

The two cheek products are warm and summery. The Give Me Life Bronzing Powder is part of the Full Face Kit. It’s a warm matte brown that has a soft semi-sheer finish. On my skin it’s warm but not orangey. It’s a lot more wearable than it looks from what I see in the pan. The best item in the entire collection to me is the Hot and Heavy Face Powder which is available separately. It’s a soft golden champagne shimmer which is perfect! Shimmer is fine and smooth without any heavy frost.

MAC Give Me Life and Hot and Heavy

MAC Give Me Life and Hot and Heavy swatches

MAC Patrick Starrr Summer Starrr Collection Review + Swatches | The Beauty Look Book

MAC Patrick Starrr Summer Starrr Collection Review + Swatches | The Beauty Look Book

The quality is excellent for everything in this launch. Colors are all smooth and apply beautifully. I think the face kit is an excellent value. I also fully support and applaud brand and influencer collaborations like this. It makes me really happy to see these kinds of partnerships! The colors have a good mix of neutral and on trend aspects. That being said, with kits I feel the same way about kits as I do palettes – they can be tricky if you don’t 100% love all the colors. For the Full Face Kit I cannot wear the Heat Stroke Eyeshadow quad by itself. It takes a lot of mixing with cools or neutrals for me to be able to pull off the colors easily – I did test everything for several days and embraced the red eye look at home and while out and about. It was well outside of my comfort zone. The rest of the items are more my vibe although I do think the color are dupeable. If you are looking to add more to your collection at a value price these items are great. If you own a lot of MAC already you may want to shop your stash.

My favorite item is the Hot and Heavy highlighter. It’s the perfect mix of warm gold + champagne for my skintone! I also really like the Cream Pie Lipglass as a wearable pale milky pink. Have you tried anything from this launch yet? What did you think?

You can find the MAC Patrick Starrr Summer Starrr Face Kit and Highlighter out now. The Summer Starrr Full Face Kit runs at $49.50 and Hot and Heavy Face Powder retails for $34. Available now at MAC Cosmetics, Nordstrom, Ulta, Macy’s, Saks Fifth Avenue and Dillard’s.

MAC Patrick Starrr items provided courtesy of MAC for review.

 

Charlotte Tilbury

Charlotte Tilbury Filmstar Bronze and Blush Glow Set

July 21, 2017

Charlotte Tilbury Filmstar Bronze and Blush Glow Set | The Beauty Look Book

Charlotte Tilbury has a special Nordstrom beauty exclusive called the Filmstar Bronze and Glow Blush Set ($75). This is a limited-edition set that’s part of the 2017 Nordstrom Anniversary Sale which opens up to everyone today! Out of all the makeup items I purchased this one is by far my favorite. My local Nordstrom didn’t have this so I ordered it online and think it’s the best cheek duo she’s launched to date. I’ve been a long time fan of her original Filmstar Bronze and Glow because it’s an effortless contour and highlight palette I find really versatile. She’s released a few other variations but this is the first that has a blush color. The set comes with a mini Artistry Blush brush which didn’t look like it would be the best quality from the cut but I was pleasantly surprised by how soft it felt and also how well it performed.

Charlotte Tilbury Filmstar Bronze and Blush Glow Set | The Beauty Look Book

The bronze shade in this duo is the lightest out of all the Filmstar duo palettes but still has enough color to add warmth to my medium tan skin. If you’re super fair or light and want a natural looking bronzer I think this is an excellent option. The blush shade is a soft shimmering soft coral pink with a soft peach/gold sheen. To me it’s like a pink less frosted version of NARS Orgasm Blush. On me it looks medium but on lighter skins it will be more pigmented/brighter.

Texture of both sides is soft and luminous without any frost. This is perfect for summer to add a soft sheen. I found it perfectly soft – I was able to layer for more pigment by putting a tiny bit of cream blush or highlighter underneath to pick up more color. I feel like if I could only buy one makeup item from the sale, this would be it.

Close ups of each side and swatches, bronze side:

Charlotte Tilbury Filmstar Bronze and Blush Glow | The Beauty Look Book

Blush side:

Charlotte Tilbury Filmstar Bronze and Blush Glow | The Beauty Look Book

Swatches:

Charlotte Tilbury Filmstar Bronze and Blush Glow | The Beauty Look Book

Charlotte Tilbury Filmstar Bronze and Blush Glow Set | The Beauty Look Book

Look wearing:

Charlotte Tilbury Filmstar Bronze and Blush Glow | The Beauty Look Book

A few sets of comparisons, first a look at the Powder and Sculpt brush in the full size compared to the mini in this set. As you can see the mini seems to have a different cut on the brush – something I thought would be scratchy or harsh. It’s actually surprisingly smooth and easy to use.

Charlotte Tilbury Powder and Sculpt Brush vs Mini Blush Brush

Next a look at the three Filmstar Bronze and Glow Duos, the Light-Medium, Medium-Dark and Bronze and Blush Glow. As you can see the Nordstrom exclusive has the lightest/softest looking bronzer.

Charlotte Tilbury Filmstar Bronze and Glow vs Bronze and Blush Glow Set | The Beauty Look Book

Charlotte Tilbury Filmstar Bronze and Glow Light Medium, Medium Dark and Bronze and Blush Glow Set Swatches | The Beauty Look Book

For a blush comparison, long-time readers know I’m a huge fan of her Cheek to Chic blushes for their soft luminous glow. They each have two colors to swirl and pop for depth but I really just swirl a brush in the pan and mix before applying to the face. The Filmstar Bronze and Blush Glow shade resembles Love is the Drug the most, but it still has a slight hint of warmth to it while the blush is clearly pink.

Charlotte Tilbury Filmstar Bronze and Blush Glow vs Cheek to Chic Blushes

Charlotte Tilbury Filmstar Bronze and Blush Glow vs Cheek to Chic Blushes

Charlotte Tilbury Filmstar Bronze and Blush Glow Set | The Beauty Look Book

Bottom line a solid winner and for me I call it a definite must-have. It’s naturally pretty, soft, luminous and easy to wear. I found it easy to control pigment by blending for a soft wash or layering for a more visible glow with color. I do think if you have dry skin this might not show up well on a bare face – it is powdery and with the soft texture it can feel a tad bit powdery. Make sure you have a well prepped face with some kind of tinted moisturizer or base. I found the duo performed well over a liquid base + powder, but it can look a bit powdery on bare or dry skin. Sometimes this can be fixed by spritzing a tiny bit of face mist like MAC Fix+ before applying powders or simply add a bit of a cream blush, luminizer or bronzer underneath to help the color adhere better.

For me it’s pure love and I think it’s 100% worth the splurge. I love these so much I’m going to giveaway 5 Charlotte Tilbury Filmstar Palettes. Five distinct winners will be selected at random to pick their choice of 1 palette: Filmstar Bronze and Glow Light-Medium, Medium-Dark or Bronze and Blush Glow via the widget below. Simply enter by following one of the steps in the Rafflecopter widget. Open internationally but you must be 18 years or older to qualify. Giveaway runs through July 29th 11:45 EST. I’ll select and email the winners within 48 hours after the giveaway ends. Prizes will be mailed within 1 week after I receive a response. Please refer to terms and conditions in the widget for all the details.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

You can find the Charlotte Tilbury Filmstar Bronze and Blush Glow set exclusively at Nordstrom for the Anniversary Sale. There’s a GWP going on online as well – check their Gift With Purchase Page as it gets updated regularly. All the other Beauty Exclusives here.

Are you shopping the sale today? What’s on your list?

 

Highlighters NARS

NARS Bord de Plage Highlighting and Bronzing Palette

July 5, 2017

NARS Bord de Plage Highlighting and Bronzing Palette Review | The Beauty Look Book

NARS has been on a roll with new launches and the latest is the Bord de Plage Highlighting and Bronzing Palette ($59 for 0.11 oz/3.2 g x 6). This is currently a Nordstrom exclusive and fairly similar to the Sephora exclusive Banc de Sable (no longer available, but review and swatches here). As a highlighter fan I had to try the new one even though it looked like there was a possibility the two would be really close. If you already own the trio, I don’t think you need to get the 6-pan palette unless you’re really wanting the sunwash bronzers.

The Bord de Plage Highlighting and Bronzing Palette has six shades in a large mirrored compact. There are four highlighters in the same pressed version as Banc de Sable. There are also two bronzers in the Sunwash Bronzer formula (reviewed here). The highlighters are all gorgeous with a beautiful shimmer that blends in with the skin nicely and doesn’t emphasize pores or lines. The shimmer is noticeable but not overly frosted. The Sunwash Bronzers aren’t really something I’m a huge fan of, although I do feel the ones in the palette have a less muddy feel/look to them on my skin compared to the individual ones I bought earlier in the spring.

NARS Bord de Plage Highlighting and Bronzing Palette Review | The Beauty Look Book

Colors in the palette include the following, top row:

  • Rivage (also in the Banc de Sable Palette) is a pale ivory white-gold shimmer
  • Crique is a light yellowish gold champagne shimmer
  • Laguna Sunwashed bronzer is a medium brown tan with a matte finish

NARS Bord de Plage Highlighting and Bronzing Palette Review | The Beauty Look Book

Colors in the bottom row are slightly darker:

  • Corniche is a shimmering champagne with cool-tones, it’s a pearly color
  • Galet is a shimmering champagne peach-copper
  • Casino is a slightly deeper version of Laguna

NARS Bord de Plage Highlighting and Bronzing Palette Review | The Beauty Look Book

Swatches:

NARS Bord de Plage Highlighting and Bronzing Palette Swatches | The Beauty Look Book

Comparisons between Banc de Sable and Bord de Plage, Rivage in both is identical. The Sale in the trio is almost identical to either Crique/Corniche. Quick note on Galet – I’m quite tan right now so it appears more champagne than copper on me. I’ve looked at swatches on some other blogs and Galet looks more coppery on fair skins.

NARS Bord de Plage vs Banc de Sable Highlighting Palettes | The Beauty Look Book

NARS Bord de Plage Highlighting and Bronzing Palette vs Banc de Sable Trio | The Beauty Look Book

Quick look with Bord de Plage Palette wearing Crique and Rivage on the Eyes with the Loaded Eyeshadow Palette. On the cheeks is Laguna with Corniche and Galet mixed/blended. Foundation is the Velvet Matte Skin Tint in St. Moritz. On the lips is Marc Jacobs Sugar Sugar. Top by Joie.

One last look:

Bottom line I love this palette but find it really similar to the Banc de Sable one so I probably did not need both. Quality is excellent with smooth shimmers that blend nicely into the skin – it’s perfect for cheeks and eyes and you do get a good mix of champagnes and pearly shades. I do think there are similarities between the top and bottom but I really love all the colors so I don’t mind. Lasting power is really good with this one – it stays put for a long time even with the heat and humidity. If I had to pick this or the trio, I would pick the trio because it has that pretty peachy shade which I don’t see here. Still this one is quite good and I think it’s reasonably priced.

The NARS Bord de Plage Palette is available at Nordstrom. It’s limited-edition. Have you tried this one yet? Or did you get Banc de Sable?

NARS

NARS Haul: Charlotte Gainsbourg, Sun Wash Diffusing Bronzer and Velvet Eye + Lip

June 13, 2017

I’ve hauled some pieces here and there from a few NARS collections. The haul has been pieces I’ve accumulated from the Charlotte Gainsbourg Collection, a couple Sun Wash Diffusing Bronzers, a Velvet Eye Shadow Stick in Siros and one of the new Velvet Matte Lip Pencils in Intriguing. I took this photo about a month ago and it’s been quite a while since I’ve been able to swatch and test everything.

NARS Charlotte Gainsbourg Collection features sheer tints for the face and lips with bold high pigment options for the eyes. I bought all of these from Nordstrom but some colors have since sold out so I’ll link where you can still find them. Everything is limited-edition. Shown below from left to right:

  • Multiple Tint in Jo (all shades available at Neiman Marcus) – the cheek tints come in three colors and they are super sheer with a dewy transparent sheen. I loved the color of Jo which is a light very light watermelon pink but ended being too dewy on my skin. It does give the face a fresh glow of natural color. To me this entire lineup seems more like something for fall – if you are living in a more mild cooler weather compared to South Florida I think this will still be ok to wear, for me it was too dewy.
  • Hydrating Glow Tint in Medium (all shades still available at Saks) is something I hated when I first tried it. The product oozed out all over the place as soon as I opened it and the colors looked so limited I thought for sure I would not find a match. I didn’t like the tip because it seemed like product would pool in the tip. I gave it a test run and love the formula. It’s a super sheer formula so colors are a bit forgiving. Still I do wish they made this in more colors. I prefer the Pure Radiant Tinted Moisturizer formula by far, but the hydrating glow tint gives sheer even coverage and makes the skin look fresh and glowing without being too dewy or shiny.
  • Lip Tint in Ephelide (all shades available at Neiman Marcus) is a sheer berry mauve. It has an almost jelly like finish. It’s sheer but still very pigmented to give the lips a soft tint. I bought the most neutral color option and love it for everyday or for something a bit more dressy than nude. Lasting power is so-so because it’s a gloss like formula but with no sticky or tacky feel, but it does staying power is decent.
  • Old Church Street Eyeshadow Duo is something I knew in my gut that I might not like 100% yet I broke my rule for eyeshadow purchasing and bought it anyways. I personally can’t wear teal without looking super tired. This one is no exception. I adore the left side which is a shimmering soft champagne, the other is a smooth matte teal. Both are excellent in pigment and apply smoothly so formula and color wise it’s an A+. I just don’t do teal well so I can really only wear half of it. I suspect I’m going to gift it away to a friend.

NARS Charlotte Gainsbourg Collection Picks | The Beauty Look Book

NARS Charlotte Gainsbourg Collection Picks Swatched | The Beauty Look Book

A closer look at the Hydrating Glow Tint:

NARS Charlotte Gainsbourg Hydrating Glow Tint Review | The Beauty Look Book

I was able to get samples at my counter of all the shades:

NARS Charlotte Gainsbourg Hydrating Glow Tint Review | The Beauty Look Book

My best match is Medium:

NARS Charlotte Gainsbourg Hydrating Glow Tint Review | The Beauty Look Book

Swatch comparisons to the Pure Radiant Tinted Moisturizer in St. Moritz and Radiant Creamy Concealer in Custard, Macadamia and Ginger:

NARS Charlotte Gainsbourg Hydrating Glow Tint Review | The Beauty Look Book

Swatched next to a few MAC Next to Nothing foundation shades (all of them reviewed here), I don’t have the lighter ones any more since I gifted them away to a friend as I’m more in the medium range:

NARS Charlotte Gainsbourg Hydrating Glow Tint Review | The Beauty Look Book

Next I picked up a couple things from the regular line including the Velvet Lip Pencil in Intriguing and Velvet Eye Shadow Stick in Siros. Intriguing is a warm rose with a velvet finish. Pigment is medium to full and covers the lip entirely. There’s no detectable scent and it lasts a long time. I’m still a glossy girl at heart but these still wear nicely for me. Siros isn’t a new shade (I believe it was launched in the spring) but I picked it up. It’s a gorgeous light bronzey shimmer which I’m obsessed with. Swatch comparisons below.

NARS Velvet Matte Lip Pencil Intriguing and Velvet Eye Shadow Stick Siros

Lips compared to the following. The NARS Intriguing pulls the warmest on me (lip swatch a bit lower). For a pencil kind of product I prefer the Hourglass out of the three I swatched for the formula/color. The last three are traditional lipstick formulas, all a lot more pink and cooler-toned than the NARS, but still in the same color family.

NARS Velvet Matte Lip Pencil Intriguing Comparison Swatches

Shadow swatches below in other shimmery shades. Siros is the most coppery and the lightest.

NARS Velvet Shadow Stick Siros Comparison Swatches

Lip swatches:

NARS Velvet Lip Pencil Intriguing Lip Tint Ephelide

Last but not least are two of the Sun Wash Diffusing Bronzers in Seaside and Laguna. I tested these immediately as soon as I bought them and fell in love with the soft matte finish they both had. It’s since gotten more humid and wet for weather and suddenly these now look a bit muddy on my skin unless I apply with a super light hand. I suspect I’m just too light for these even though I have a pretty good tan right now. Seaside is the lightest option and also the warmest. Laguna is not the same as the original. If you don’t have the original and are deciding between the Sun Wash version and the other, I’d go with the original. It has a prettiest glow to it without looking overdone.

NARS Sun Wash Diffusing Bronzer Seaside and Laguna

NARS Sun Wash Diffusing Bronzer | The Beauty Look Book

That wraps up my NARS hauling. Overall thoughts on the Charlotte Gainsbourg collection are that it’s a very pretty collection of products and formulas but seems better suited for fall. If this were THE summer collection for NARS I’d be pretty disappointed as I usually love the fresh warm bronze and peaches they launch. That being said I’ve been plenty busy with the Banc de Sable Palette (now available on NARS) and the Liquid Blush (review here) for my summer beauty fix. I saw a preview of some summer newness on Instagram from @bubblymichelle and hope we get this in the US!

For the two permanent items, I think the NARS Velvet Matte Lip Pencils are great for a matte product. They’re not heavy or cakey like traditional mattes. They glide on the lips nicely and stay put longer than a sheer glossy lip or balm. Siros is pure love for me. I love those kinds of shades and finding a nice copper/gold/bronze that isn’t too warm can be a challenge for me.

For the bronzers at this point I’d say they’re a pass. I’ll be gifting these to a friend as well. I really loved them when the weather wasn’t so humid but it’s just the start here in Florida and it will be months before it cools down. I’m more smitten with the Becca Sunlit Bronzers because they have a nice soft glow to them which don’t oxidize or look muddy on my skin.

You can find NARS online at NARS, Nordstrom, Sephora, Saks Fifth Avenue, and Neiman Marcus.

Have you tried any of these things yet? What did you think?

Becca Bronzer + Blush Highlighters

Becca x Chrissy Teigen Glow Face Palette Review + Swatches

May 19, 2017

Becca x Chrissy Teigen Glow Face Palette Review | The Beauty Look Book

Becca launched a new palette with Chrissy Teigen called the Becca x Chrissy Teigen Glow Face Palette ($46 for 15 g/0.53 oz) and it’s absolutely stunning. It has four colors for the face including two highlighters, a bronzer and a blush – I have loved them on both the face and eyes. For a palette I think the price point is fairly reasonable – it comes in a pretty girly rose gold compact with a glossy pink exterior.

Becca x Chrissy Teigen Glow Face Palette Review | The Beauty Look Book

 

A closer look at the palette and descriptions of the colors. All the shades have excellent pigment, smooth finish and blend beautifully on the skin. The color is easy to control for either a sheerer wash or pigmented color. All the shades look like they will be universally flattering. The shimmer is visible but not over the top.

  • Rose Gold Highlighter is peachy rose with gold shimmer
  • Hibiscus Bloom Blush is a soft warm pink with a hint of gold glow
  • Malibu Soleil Bronzer is a medium warm bronze
  • Beach Nectar is a pretty champagne peach

Becca x Chrissy Teigen Glow Face Palette Review | The Beauty Look Book

Becca x Chrissy Teigen Glow Face Palette Swatches | The Beauty Look Book

I did a quick look a few posts back with the Tatcha Cherry Blossom lips, I’ll repost here so you can see it:

Tatcha Cherry Blossom Lip Trio + Becca Chrissy Teigan Palette Look | The Beauty Look Book

A closer look, the shimmer is just so pretty!

Becca x Chrissy Teigen Glow Face Palette Review | The Beauty Look Book

If you think this palette looks similar to a lot of other highlighters or palettes you’re right. There are similarities so if you already own a lot of Becca products and don’t want duplicates you may want to shop your stash. That being said I do think this one is quite stunning.

Three sets of comparison swatches for you! Set 1 includes the Becca x Chrissy Teigen vs Becca x Jaclyn Hill (from last year):

Becca Chrissy Teigen v Jaclyn Hill | The Beauty Look Book

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Set 2:

Becca x Chrissy Teigen Palette v Becca Champagne Pop, Rose Gold and Tom Ford Reflects Gilt | The Beauty Look Book

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Set 3:

Becca Chrissy Teigen vs NARS Banc de Sable | The Beauty Look Book

Becca x Chrissy Teigen Glow Face Palette Review | The Beauty Look Book

Becca x Chrissy Teigen Glow Face Palette Review | The Beauty Look Book

Bottom line, dupeable but still gorgeous. I see a lot of similarities between last year’s Becca collaboration with Jaclyn Hill and also with individual colors from the line. You can definitely get a similar look with other products but the convenience of having these in a single palette will be very handy for upcoming spring to summer travels. I ordered mine and have no regrets even though I have a few other Becca items. The quality and pigment is on point – it really is very very good. Also I think the price point makes this a reasonable buy.

The colors are perfect to brighten the face with a lovely flush of color and glow without being overdone or too frosty. I love that the shimmers aren’t harsh and that there is no yellow gold in them (they tend to look super harsh on my olive skin). I highly recommend this.

You can find the Becca x Chrissy Teigen Glow Face Palette now online and in stores at Sephora, Ulta Beauty, QVC and Becca Cosmetics. Have you checked this one out? What did you think?