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Eye Makeup

Fall Mascara + Base Roundup: Chanel, NARS, By Terry, L’Oreal + Glossier

October 11, 2018

I have a roundup of mascaras and primers I’ve tried over the past few months. A few I’ve already reviewed but thought a comprehensive lineup post might be more helpful. My top three tried-and-true have been Tom Ford Waterproof Extreme, L’Oreal Voluminous Lash Paradise Waterproof and Chanel Le Volume Waterproof. Since I have straight lashes waterproof works best to hold curl after using a lash curler and also helps prevent smudging in humid weather. I’m always looking to try new ones to volumize and define. Often times I find mascaras excel in one or two areas but rarely hit all the marks for volumizing, adding definition, holding the curl, no smudging, no flaking, and being easy to remove. So please keep in mind I’m super picky and have difficult lashes.

Mascara + Primer Roundup in today’s post includes:

Chanel La Base Mascara ($32 for 0.21 oz/6 g, made in France)
Chanel Le Volume Revolution de Chanel ($35 for 0.21 oz/6 g, made in Italy)
By Terry Lash-Expert ($30 for 0.28 oz/8.3 g, made in Italy)
NARS Climax Mascara ($24 for 0.21 oz/6.2 ml, made in Italy)
Glossier Lash Slick ($16 for 0.29 oz/8.5 g, made in France, save 10% off your first order)
L’Oreal Voluminous Lash Paradise Base ($9.99 for, made in USA)

Chanel La Base Mascara + Le Volume Revolution de Chanel

I think it’s hard to top the regular Le Volume Mascara or the Le Volume Waterproof for me. This formula was the first I tried from the brand that I liked for the true black color and the fact that the waterproof version didn’t look or feel crunchy on my lashes. I reviewed the new Chanel La Base Mascara over the summer and thought it was ok but didn’t really do much. When used in conjunction with their latest Le Volume Revolution de Chanel it makes for an excellent combination.

The new Le Volume Revolution de Chanel Mascara has a chubby brush that is 3D printed. It’s designed to give volume in a single stroke. I initially thought it would be identical to the Le Volume, but when I tried each one on each eye, side by side and the Le Volume Revolution does indeed give significantly more volume and intensity with one stroke. With the regular Le Volume I layer a couple times and brush it on to apply to get intensity. I do this with most mascaras. I think the new Le Volume Revolution de Chanel is excellent – I didn’t experience any smudging or racoon eyes, but of course your mileage may vary depending on how oily your skin is under the eyes. It was easy to remove with their Gentle Bi-Phase Makeup Remover. If this came out in a waterproof formula eventually I think I would love it even more. When in doubt, I really just prefer waterproof formulas in general. To sum up, the new mascara is great. It volumizes, doesn’t clump, stays put and is a true black.

By Terry Lash-Expert

This By Terry Lash-Expert Mascara is one of the most highly rated mascaras of the year. It has a wand you can twist to control how much volume/intensity you want applied. I reviewed this formula back in the spring and gave it an ok review since I preferred the L’Oreal and Tom Ford for holding the curl. Since then I’ve been experimenting with it more and find that for me this works best when layered over a waterproof formula. This is a trick many of you have shared with me to apply a waterproof version first, then layer with a more volumizing formula on top. This makes this version work for me 100%! I’ve tried it over the Maybelline Total Temptation and L’Oreal Voluminous Lash Paradise Waterproof.

NARS Climax Mascara

NARS Climax Mascara is the latest from NARS. I used to love their volume formula that was discontinued years ago. I stopped using their mascaras after they discontinued it. This one gives mega volume and doesn’t smudge on me although several of you have reported it does. I think your mileage may vary, but this one gives me good volume without any clumping. The bristles are well separated in this brush which makes it less prone to clumping for me. I do think the Chanel Le Volume Revolution de Chanel gives more volume with one stroke. However you can build it up with the NARS without caking it on.

Glossier Lash Slick

I could not resist the cute pink Glossier Lash Slick tube for this one. It has a rubber applicator with larger gaps in between the spikes. I think this is a decent formula. It defines, lengthens and darkens the lashes nicely. It doesn’t give as much volume as other formulas do, but for the price I was pleased. It did not smudge on me and it held the curl pretty well. (Case shown is by The Daily Edited.)

L’Oreal Voluminous Lash Paradise Base

I’ve been the biggest fan of the L’Oreal Voluminous Lash Paradise Waterproof Mascara. I know so many of you love a good drugstore mascara but this is the only one I’ve tried that impressed me for EVERYTHING it claims. They recently launched the L’Oreal Voluminous Lash Paradise Base and I reviewed it in my budget beauty roundup here. I think it’s one of the best mascara bases I’ve tried. It works best if you don’t let it dry completely before applying mascara. Given how good the mascara is I don’t think the primer is essential, but it does help nourish the lashes and help mascara adhere better.

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All the mascaras lined up so you can see the length of brushes:

In summary, my top three are still the top three. I think the Chanel Le Volume de Revolution is a winner for fall, but I’m really hoping it will come out in a waterproof version eventually. By Terry works when combined with another waterproof version. And for a mascara primer I still think this isn’t essential but I’m smitten with the L’Oreal Voluminous Lash Paradise Base formula.

For those who missed my previous roundups, my favorite removers and tools:

Almay Longwear & Waterproof Eye Makeup Remover Pads are the only removers that truly remove waterproof formulas for me
For non-waterproof versions I still love the Lancome Bi-Facil Double Action Eye Makeup Remover and Chanel Gentle Bi-Phase Eye Makeup Remover
For a lash curler my go to’s are the MAC Full Lash Curler or Surratt Relevee Lash Curler (I really loved the Chanel one but think it’s discontinued)

That wraps up my fall mascara rotation review. I’d love to hear your thoughts on any formulas you tried! Mascara can be so tricky, it’s truly hit or miss depending on your lash type and length. Mine don’t hold the curl and are naturally straight so what works for me might not work for you if you have fuller lush lashes!

Press samples include the NARS Climax and Chanel Le Volume Revolution de Chanel. I also purchased the Le Volume Revolution de Chanel on my own so I have two.

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By Terry

By Terry Compact-Expert and Stylo-Expert Review + Swatches

October 9, 2017

By Terry launched several new products for fall including a new powder called Compact-Expert Dual Powder ($46 each for 5g/0.17 oz, made in Italy) and concealers called Stylo-Expert Click Sticks ($34 each for 1 g/0.035 oz, made in Korea). I saw the new items last month in person while I was in Santa Barbara and found a Space NK store near my hotel and picked up a few of the powders, when I got home I decided I needed all the colors so ordered the rest online from Nordstrom. I also ordered three of the concealers as I wasn’t sure what color I would be, in store swatching seemed to have shades that were either too light or dark but I decided to give it a go.

The Compact-Expert Dual Powders are also called All-Over Perfection matte and glow powders. The box says these powders are made with Intensive Mimetic Camouflage technology which is supposed be “self-adapting” light-focus pigments. I’m not really sure I understand fully what that means or if this really means anything significant but I do find these have a lightweight soft blendable texture that give the skin a beautiful natural glow and tint of color. Each compact has two shades, a center that is shimmery and an outer ring that is more satiny/matte. I don’t know that I would use these all over the face as the size of the product makes it pretty hard to dip a powder or brush blush into just one color. Also most of these don’t strike me as setting powder colors. I do like these as highlighters or blushes, even on the eyes though. They are like a softer slightly more matte version of the Charlotte Tilbury Cheek to Chic Powder Blushes. Lasting power is quite good – they stay put all day long on me. There is no detectable scent and have a smooth flawless finish.

The lighter shades are all really pretty light in color. Pigment is sheer to medium but buildable. The only color that resembles my skintone is 4 Beige Nude, the others look similar on me but a lot of times lighter colors can do that. If you are on the fair or light end of the skintone spectrum I think you’ll be thrilled to find a few options light enough for you!

1 Ivory Fair, 2 Rosy Gleam, 3 Apricot Glow, 4 Beige Nude

Shades 5 through 8 show up better on my skintone as blush or bronzer. I love every single color. If I had to skip any, I think Choco Vanilla can pull a little bit too warm on my skintone.

5 Amber Light, 6 Choco Vanilla, 7 Sun Desire and 8 Mocha Fizz

Next up are the By Terry Stylo-Expert Click Stick concealers which I think rival Cle de Peau (at least the original formula, I haven’t tried the new one). The By Terry ones have a smoother finish that glide on the skin easier. I’ve loved Cle de Peau for years but the biggest complaint I’ve heard from readers is that the formula is too opaque and dry and can tug on the skin, especially under the eyes. The By Terry has rich opaque coverage but blends out to medium coverage – it’s not as full coverage as the Cle de Peau ones but still has impressive coverage I was able to build. Swatching can be a little deceiving as they are really opaque when you swatch them and they look pale, but they will look more forgiving on the skin if you don’t have an exact match. In store I thought the shades would be too light or dark. If I were to find my exact match it would be in between 8 and 10 (there’s a pretty big gap there). 8 is the closest but pulls a little olive – for my concealers I tend to want a little bit more warmth as an exact match can be a bit sallow-looking on my olive skin.

I tried 4.5 and 5 as well. Oddly enough all three work for me under the eyes – the color you pick really depends on what kind of coverage, undertone or effect you need. You can definitely use these to brighten or highlight or contour. They are creamy enough that you can layer on top of your foundation and it won’t look cakey. These wore well on my skin under the eyes and didn’t crease, budge or cake – you do need to set with powder and if you have dry patches I recommend you make sure you prime or moisturize the skin well first.

The biggest downside I’d say is the price for the amount of product you get. The By Terry Stylo-Expert Click Stick runs $34 for 1 g while the Cle de Peau is $70 for 5 g. A quick look at price per oz on other concealers show that the By Terry one is indeed on the high side and while I do understand the quality, packaging and design is all there I do think they should give us more product in the tube.

Shown below 4.5 Soft Beige, 5 Peach Beige and 8 Intense Beige

Swatches next to other shades I use: Diorskin Forever Under Cover Concealer 30 and 31, NARS Radiant Creamy Concealer in Ginger, Milk Makeup Flex Concealer in Medium and Sisley Phtyo Cernes Eclat #2.

Quick looks with four of the shades on the face plus different matching/coordinating lip colors:

Foundation is Diorskin Forever Perfect Foundation in 31
Concealer is By Terry Stylo-Expert Click Stick in 5 Peach Beige under the eyes
Cheek Color + Lip Color from top left clockwise, the cheek colors have been swirled in the compact and then applied on cheeks:
- By Terry Compact-Expert in #3 Apricot Glow + By Terry Rouge-Expert Click Stick in #3 Bare Me
- By Terry Compact-Expert in #5 Amber Light + Rouge Dior Liquid in Delicate Satin #427
- By Terry Compact-Expert in #7 Sun Desire + Marc Jacobs Le Marc Lipstick in Slow Burn
- By Terry Compact-Expert in #6 in Choco Vanilla + YSL Volupte Shine in #47 Beige Blouse (swatch here)
Eyeshadow is Laura Mercier Matte Caviar Eye Stick in Caramel + Chanel City Lights (review here)
Mascara is L’Oreal Lash Paradise Waterproof
Brow pencil is Diorshow Brow Styler in Universal Brown
Stripe tee by Jcrew

One last look and overall thoughts: I am really impressed with the powders – they are smooth and have a natural glow on the skin. I could have skipped #1, 2 (these are too light) and 6 (too warm) but really all the colors are wearable and I know I’ll wear each shade on a regular basis. This isn’t something I feel I can say about entire collections but in this case I can. The concealers are really good in terms of wear, quality and finish. my feelings on these are the same about those Hourglass Confession Lipsticks – the price is really just too much given the mount of product that they give you. If you can find a shade that works for you I don’t think you’ll be disappointed, but I can’t help but feel like it’s kinda a rip-off price per gram.

I bought all the shades myself but received three powders as press samples which I’m going to give away! One person will win #4, #5 and #7. All you have to do is subscribe to my newsletter, be sure to enter via the Rafflecopter widget below – it’s open internationally but you must be 18 years or older to enter. Giveaway ends 10/14/2017 and I’ll select ONE winner within 48 hours after it ends and contact them via e-mail.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Have you tried these? What did you think? If not which shade do you have your eye on? Note there is a Space NK/Nordstrom GWP going on now online only if you have these on your wishlist. I believe Space NK will have a gift in a week or so as well.

I found these at Space NK and Nordstrom. Also available at Barneys New York, Bloomingdale’s, Saks Fifth Avenue, Net-A-Porter and Beautylish.

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Bronzer + Blush By Terry Highlighters

By Terry Sun Designer Palette Savannah Love

April 1, 2017

Happy Saturday! I have a weekend post for you today because I don’t want you to miss out on a new launch from By Terry. Today Beautylish is launching two new Sun Designer Palettes ($82 for 15 g/0.53 oz, made in Italy) from the By Terry Tropical Break collection and they have a 2-week early exclusive. If you signed up for their early access page the palettes will be available at 9:00 AM PST and 11:00 AM for the public. I have one of the new ones to feature today, Savannah Love #4 and it’s stunning. A quick look at their early access page shows that Savannah Love is the lighter option of the two new ones and I’m grateful that Beautylish sent one for me to preview.

I previously featured the first two Sun Designer Palettes #1 Tan and Flash Cruise and #2 Light and Tan Vibes last year (how time flies!). You can see swatches and a review in my original post. The new palettes this year have the same size packaging and pans but the embossed texture has a more summery vibe to resemble a palm print. Also the dividers in this season’s launch are gold-colored versus the black dividers. If you’re looking for a really pretty summer glow Savannah Love #4 will give you a natural flush of color. It has a mix of textures and shades to be versatile for eyes and cheeks.

Colors:

Shimmering soft pink
Shimmering warm gold
Berry satin (shimmer is very subtle)
Satiny-matte light nude cool pink (love this color)
Satiny-matte nude warm pink
Soft shimmering cool bronze

Pigment is medium-rich but soft and buildable. Textures are similar to that of the first two in the sense they are extremely soft and smooth powders that feel of high quality. Since they are powders there will be some powder kick up but there’s very minimal fall out once you apply to the face. They meld with the skin nicely, blend smoothly, don’t emphasize pores and last all day without fading.

Close ups and swatches:

Because I know so many of you will ask, I swatched the three I have side by side. There are six colors per palette so I had a hard time getting them to all fit on the arm in larger swatches. I do think that Savannah Love #4 is different enough for both sides to justify buying even if you already own #1 and #2. I will say that the Light and Tan Vibes is my favorite out of the three. Also a quick note that I’ve been out in the sun so my body is already at least 1 maybe 2 shades darker as I’ve been experimenting with different sunscreens while outside. My face is still the same color as I’ve been using SPF50. I didn’t have time to photograph a beauty look this round – it was a toss up between swatching and photographing comparisons + brushes or a look. I felt that comparisons would be more helpful this round.

My favorite is #2 and I think it will suit a wide range of skin tones. If you have medium-tan to deep I think you’ll find that #1, #4 or even #3 (not featured) will be more up your alley for a pretty summery look!

Another note since many of you have asked about pan size. Yes it’s inevitable that you’ll mix colors with a face brush. You can still dip a smaller brush into an individual color without mixing if you’re careful. The beauty of these palettes is that even if you mix the result is still pretty. I personally like to swirl my brush in either the right half or left half and then apply on the face. If you’re in search for some smaller detail brushes I hope this helps.

Shown above includes: Chanel Blush Brush, Wayne Goss Brush 02, MAC Duo Fiber 188, Wayne Goss Holiday 2016 (discontinued), Wayne Goss #14 (part of his new Face Set, sold out but they will restock), Charlotte Tilbury Powder and Sculpt Brush.

A few more thoughts on Savannah Love. Out of the three I have, the new Savannah Love does feel like it has more variety in color and texture. You can swirl 2 or more the colors together. If I take a smaller brush I can separate the colors for individual application. I like that the lighter shades help to blend or soften harsh edges while still adding color. The darkest bronze shade is a little bit dark to wear on the face alone for me but if I swirl it with other shades it works for the cheeks. I find it really subtle on the eyes as eyeshadow. If you like color but don’t want something super bright go with #4 Savannah Love. If you want more pop and color go with #1 Tan and Flash Cruise. If you want something more natural go with #2 Light and Tan Vibes (love love love this one!). There’s no detectable scent.

Bottom line another solid launch from By Terry. I haven’t explored much of recent launches since I’m still working my way through a lot of her products, in particular the tinted Baume de Rose (I love Coral Stellar and Fig Fiction). The prices are very high but worth the splurge.

You can find the new By Terry Sun Designer Palettes on Beautylish (launching today!). If you’ve tried these what did you think? If not what are you wearing for a summery cheek look right now? Or are you waiting for summer launches?

Many thanks to Beautylish for sending Savannah Love for review.

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By Terry

By Terry Impearlious Baume de Rose and Ombre Blackstar Gift Collections for Holiday 2016

October 29, 2016

I ordered two of the holiday sets from By Terry from Space NK to take advantage of the current Explore Promotion going on. The promo runs through 10/30 where you can save $25 off orders $125 or more with code EXPLORE30 at checkout online at Space NK (US site only). There are quite a few holiday items to choose from and given the fact that there are lots of other tempting sets and holiday launches this year, I decided to narrow down my picks to two sets:

Impearlious Baume de Rose Gift Collection ($65) for 1 mini-sized Baume de Rose and 4 mini Pearlescent Baume de Rose colors, colors are available only in the mini size
Impearlious Ombre Blackstar Gift Collection ($155) for 5 full-sized Ombre Blackstar cream shadow sticks in existing shades

As a long-time By Terry fan I have mixed feelings about these two. I think almost everyone has bought items they like but don’t necessarily love. I had high hopes for this year’s Impearlious Baume de Rose Gift Collection as I really loved last year’s version and I love the Baume de Rose formula. There would have been nothing to stop me from ordering this year’s version as it contains four shimmery versions which you can’t find in the full-size, at least not right now. There’s also a single Impearlious Baume de Rose Tree Decoration version but I could not tell if it’s the same color as the pink one in the set. Some sites list it as “Fresco Rose” which is what is in the set, others list it as “Crystalline Rose” so I decided to pass. If you have bought the ornament – let me know where and what yours says on the bottom label.

The Holiday 2016 Impearlious Baume de Rose Gift Collection contains four shimmers and one signature clear Baume de Rose. What prevents me from giving this a 100% rave review is that the colors are just so incredibly sheer. I do know that balms in general are supposed to be sheer, but since I have pigmented lips these pretty much all look the same on me. If one is going just for the skincare hydration element, I think you can skip and find something that works just as well for a fraction of the price. Right now I’m completely obsessed with Lanolips which I just discovered. Net-A-Porter has an exclusive Peach and Strawberry duo which is amazing (review soon). It offers better hydration for my lips although the concept and formulas are completely different so I don’t know that I can really compare the two.

Onto the set. The Impearlious set contains 100 Frozen Queen which is a shimmering silvery pearl, 200 Fresco Rose a sheer pink with silver sparkle, 400 Freezy Berry which is a sheer lilac shimmer, 300 Frost Fire which is a coppery peach shimmer (my favorite). There’s also the regular Baume de Rose which is clear on the lips. The shimmer is noticeable on the lips but texture is smooth without any chunky feel like you might expect from the sparkle particles.

By Terry Impearlious Baume de Rose Gift Collection - The Beauty Look Book

Swatched on bare lips, they pretty much look the same, or at least very similar:

The Impearlious Ombre Blackstar Gift Collection is priced at a value price compared to buying each one individually. Separately, the Ombre Blackstars are $44 each. The set give you 5 for $155 making them $31 each. If you don’t own any I highly recommend you get the set because the formula is really good. They are on the sparkly side but still very wearable. Even though I already own 3 of the 5 colors the set was worth it to me as I need to replace them anyways. The only thing I was a bit disappointed about was that the stock images online show these to be cased in a silver packaging but they come in the regular gold. It’s not a deal breaker but in this day and age I think there should be some level of accuracy in online stock images.

The colors you get in the set are Black Pearl which is a shimmering gunmetal, Blonde Opal which is a shimmering soft gold, Bronze Moon (one of my favorites) a bronze taupe, Frozen Quarts a gorgeous shimmering soft pink, Ombre Mercure a sparkling antique silver with a greenish tinge.

What I like about these is they are super creamy, apply smoothly, are easy to blend and layer. Lasting power is pretty good on my lids and you can wear a single shade as a wash or layer them together or with powders for an easy effortless kind of look. To me they have the prettiest shimmer finishes I’ve seen in any cream shadow. A tube also lasts forever and unlike other cream shadow sticks they won’t dry out even if you have them for over a year. I know many believe you should throw out cosmetics after a certain period of time for sanitary purposes or because items have a certain shelf life. I have thrown out quite a few items before they’re 100% used up like mascara, foundations or lipsticks – especially if the scent turns or products separate. I’ve had some of my Ombre Blackstars for over 2 years and the formula has stayed in perfect condition.

By Terry Impearlious Ombre Blackstar Gift Collection - The Beauty Look Book

Swatches of the two more Ombre Blackstars I own for reference:

One last look:

By Terry Impearlious Baume de Rose and Ombre Blackstar Gift Collections

Overall beautiful sets and nice to own, but spendy and I can’t call them must-haves. I do think the Space NK promotion savings helped on savings for the sets. I love the Ombre Blackstar formula and it’s time I replace the ones I have so the set was worth the splurge. Had I been able to see and swatch everything in person first I would have passed on the Baume de Rose set. I’m all about natural lip products but for me these are too natural for me to love them and at $65 I would have rather bought a single item I really loved from any line, a skincare set (there are so many good ones out this year!) or stocked up on Oribe items from Space NK. Given the fact that I’ve had so many hits from ordering things sight unseen it’s bound to happen every now and then to have misses. I want to reiterate that I find the quality of both sets to be really good, and I know some will really love the lip balm set, there’s nothing wrong with sheer, for me it’s just too sheer.

You can find the By Terry Holiday 2016 collection now at Net-A-Porter, Barneys New York, Beautylish and Space NK. There are still a couple days left of the Space NK Explore Promotion. If you’re ordering anything online they have Kevyn Aucoin, By Terry, Oribe, Diptyque and much more. Save $25 off orders $125 or more with code EXPLORE30 at checkout online at Space NK through 10/30 (US site only).

Have you checked out the By Terry Holiday collection yet? What did you think?

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Boutique New York Travel

Space NK Boutique – 31 Prince Street in Nolita

June 30, 2016

Last week I stopped by a few of my favorite beauty shops in NYC. Living in Southern California I am lucky to have access to most brands but often times don’t have a free standing boutique near me for some stores to get the full experience. I was beyond thrilled to stop by Space NK’s newest New York Boutique on 31 Prince Street in Nolita. This was my first time inside a free standing store and it is a beauty lover’s dream come true. Between Space NK and Birchbox Soho – you literally have all your beauty and grooming (for men) needs covered. Both stock a wide variety of mid to high end beauty brands and from the looks of it, they have everything one could need and in travel sizes too. As I was oohing and aaahing at all the shelves in Space NK, by I thought to myself I should have skipped the stress of trying to hoard minis and pack all my liquids into a quart size bag (since I travel carry-on style) and made this store my first stop in once I arrived in the city.

The store is located on the corner of Prince and Mott – it’s one of the most charming beauty spaces I’ve been inside. There’s a lot stocked in the store covering skincare, hair care, cosmetics and more – at the same time it’s very spacious with a wide open feeling that gives it a luxurious feel. Walking inside is pretty amazing – I could not help but wish that I had a space like this in my home. Displays are organized by brand and product type. Skincare is split into different walls for the natural brands, more techy brands etc. I had just missed a Dr. Lancer appearance and book signing which happened at the store a few days prior. There are decicated areas for Lancer Skincare.

Wall of skincare featuring By Terry, Chantecaille, Sunday Riley, Eve Lom, Tata Harper:

So much love for By Terry, can I have one of everything please?

The Hourglass display complete with Ambient Lighting Powders, Foundations, Brushes and more:

Eve Lom foundations and powders to the left, Smith & Cult to the right:

More beauty from Kevyn Aucoin and Lord and Berry:

Beautiful palettes from Hourglass Illumine Trio, Kevyn Aucoin Neo-Bronzer Palettes and By Terry Sun Designer Palettes (reviewed here):

Wall of heaven stocked with Oribe minis, Ouai, Sachajuan, Gloss Moderne and more:

Brow kiosk and Lipstick Queen:

Close up of Oribe heaven, full size wall and then stocked travel size minis:

Overall a must-stop if you visit New York City. There are quite a few Space NK stores located through the city, I was glad I stopped by this one as it’s in a cute neighborhood and Diptyque is just around the corner. It has a similar vibe and feel to the dedicated Space NK sections you may see inside a Bloomingdale’s (which I also love) but being able to visit a separate store is really a must if you can.

Many thanks to Space NK for allowing me to take photos inside their beautiful store. Next time I’m in New York I won’t be packing a lot of items, I know now that I can simply stop by here and purchase what I need as they carry my favorite brands.

Have you been inside a Space NK store before? I know they are all over the US but this is my first time visiting a dedicated store. Hope you enjoyed this peek into their space! Snippets on their social too @spacenkusa – something I live vicariously through since I don’t have a store near me. It’s nice to see snapshots of their stores around the country and new launch sneak peeks.

P.S. There’s a summer sale going on right now, some items are marked up to 50% off 🙂

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Roundup

10 Mascaras Tried and Tested

June 6, 2016

I’ve been playing with quite a few mascaras over the past several months – some from early January. As I’ve worked my way through a few tubes I’ve made notes on thoughts for these and kept them to photograph next to each other so you can see the brush sizes and shapes. I have really straight relatively wimpy lashes that are often barely visible unless I have mascara on. I rarely ever wear anything on the bottom lashes because most brushes are too big to catch the tiny lashes. That combined with the fact that most mascaras smudge on me is another factor for why I don’t wear anything on the lower lashes.

I have tested a few lash growth serums but am still undecided – I suspect that they require months of use to see results. I received a sample tube of Rapidlash earlier this year and as of today I’ve hit the 71 day mark of use. I have started to see some results but they are still on the subtle side. If you have ones you’ve tried that worked let me know.

Onto the mascaras I’ve tested out. Some are repeats of classic staples. I usually like waterproof versions because they are the ones that really don’t smudge on me. However there are quite a few that leave the lashes looking and feeling a bit crunchy or that turn slightly greyish when they dry so I’m really picky with formulas. The image below is interactive so you can click on the icons below to shop the mascaras:

Shown above from bottom to the top:

Clinique High Impact Mascara ($16.50) is one of the mascaras I’ve used for the longest, I discovered it years ago and it’s a great basic mascara to add definition and volume, it’s not the most volumizing formula but the black is a true black color and doesn’t smudge, flake or clump.
By Terry Terrybly Growth Booster Mascara ($48) is one I received as a gift with purchase at a counter a year ago, it’s a formula that is very expensive but gives a really nice lush look to the lashes, it is supposed to have a growth formula inside it, I haven’t noticed any visible growth from this one but it’s not one I use daily, I like this because it doesn’t flake, irritate or clump, it holds the curl and adds nice volume you can layer.
Diorshow Iconic Overcurl Mascara ($29.50) I love Dior mascaras but often times they just don’t hold the curl for me, I gave this a try in hopes of finding one that does and was thrilled to find that it did for me. There were a lot of mixed reviews online – people either love it or hate it. I found it held the curl and did not smudge. I would have liked a bit more noticeable drama for me, you can layer it but on me it was easy to over-layer where you get that slightly cakey look. The fact that it held the curl and didn’t smudge moved this into my thumbs up list.
Burberry Bold Lash ($29) is one I used a few years ago, loved it and repurchased once. I gave it another buy and have no regrets. This is best on me with one good coat. I apply at the base of the lashes and wiggle the tube to apply – it coats lashes evenly without clumping and it does not smudge on me.
Stila Huge Extreme Lash Mascara ($23) is one I tried in the Birchbox Beauty in Bloom Box (review here and it’s still available). It far exceeded my expectations and I proceeded to search for it in stores. I could not find it anywhere near me so I ordered online. It’s my new favorite formula although it is a bit hard to remove in the evening. I like this for the most drama and definition. It holds the curl and doesn’t smudge and looks like a true black.
Marc Jacobs Velvet Noir Major Volume Mascara ($26) is one I had high hopes for because I really love the O!Mega Lash Mascara (that one has been my most repurchased formula over the past year). The Velvet Noir has an ultra deep color. It has a unique curved brush that dips in the middle of the wand to match the curve of the eye and get the corners. Application is really easy and it looks incredible. Unfortunately for me it does not hold the curl. Smudging is minimal but still happens a tiny bit on me with this one.
Marc Jacobs Feather Noir Mascara ($24) is an ultra skinny mascara – one of the tiniest wands I’ve ever seen! It’s made mascara application on lower lashes possible for me. I have super sensitive eyes so it does tickle a little when I apply this but it has such a fine wand it will catch tiny lashes without touching the skin. It did not smudge on me when I used on lower lashes. I think this is a winner if you’re one who is looking for a lower lash mascara.
Charlotte Tilbury Legendary Lashes Mascara ($32) I love all things Charlotte Tilbury so when this launched I had high hopes. The regular mascara from her line is ok in my experience. This one is like a face lift for the lashes. I rarely notice the smell of mascara but this one smells like it has a tiny bit of perfume and it smells amazingly fresh and pretty. I have mixed feelings on this one. I’ve put this to the test over the last month. It gives that faux mascara look by adding incredible volume and definition – it’s really impressive. It holds the curl, doesn’t flake and is non irritating. However half the time it smudges. The other half of the time it does not. Even when I have an extra powdered under-eye sometimes it still smudges. If this came in a waterproof formula I think it would be 100% flawless for me. Right now it’s 50/50 on the smudge factor.
Chanel Le Volume Mascara ($32) is a classic. I like the regular black version but try to buy the plum shades when they launch because they are often limited-edition. There are two formulas the regular Le Volume and Le Volume Waterproof. I like both but for me waterproof is the way to go especially in humid warmer months. It adds volume and doesn’t smudge.
MustaeV Maxi Lash Volume Mascara ($18) is one of the deepest black mascaras I’ve tried. It has a super skinny wand so it’s easy to grab all the lashes – even the ones around the edges. I was really impressed how well it stayed put – no smudging for me on all testing occasions. It’s not the most volumizing for me because I have such wimpy lashes but it’s a good everyday kind of mascara that never clumps on me and I love the true black color.

Another view of the mascaras, different angle:

So which one is my favorite? Right now it’s a three-way tie between the Stila Huge Extreme Lash Mascara, the By Terry Terrybly Mascara and Chanel Le Volume. The Charlotte Tilbury Legendary Lashes is almost perfect – it smudges on me half the time I wear it.

If you’re looking for a new mascara I hope you found this roundup helpful! As always – I’d love to hear about your recommendations! At this time I don’t use a base/primer or a top coat for the lashes. I know several of you have recommended the Clarins Double Fix as a way to prevent smudging. I still have yet to try it but just ordered it so will let you know how it works. I’ve played with a few false lashes on occasion but find them too time consuming to apply on a daily basis – I know it just takes practice to get used to but it’s something I just haven’t gotten into yet.

If you have any tips, tricks or advice on lash growth serums I’m all ears!

Press samples featured include the Charlotte Tilbury, MustaeV, RapidLash. Gifted item includes the By Terry Mascara.

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What's In My Bag

What’s In My Bag

May 12, 2016

I’m spilling what’s inside my bag this week – as usual I have a couple small cosmetic bags or pouches to help keep makeup separated and somewhat organized from the rest of what I carry with me. Most of the purses I have tend to be open totes without dividers or pockets. I finally splurged on a Neverfull MM which has some pockets inside and comes with a flat zip pouch, but for the most part it’s one of those open totes. Shown above is the Tory Burch York Cosmetic Case (also cute in red) and the Truffle Small Clarity Clutch (also available in mini and large). iPhone Case is one of the Gray Malin Lisbon prints.

Face Products:

Chanel Les Beiges Healthy Glow Sheer Powder in 20 which I just used up and repurchased, several of you asked if I tried the new Chanel Les Beiges Foundation and if I planned to review. I tried it at the counter and found it extremely thick and very pink. I could not find a good color match and even the sales rep said she did not recommend it.
Hourglass Ambient Lighting Blush in Mood Exposure (reviewed here) is one of the prettiest neutral mauve pinks for the cheeks, I find myself reaching for it frequently these days.
The more I use Becca Champagne Pop (swatches here) the more I love it. If you follow them on Instagram @beccacosmetics you have probably seen a sneak peek of one of their upcoming launches and I cannot wait!
MustaeV Easy Go Brushes are among my favorite for on-the-go travel size, the Powder Brush is soft and fluffy and works for powder, bronzer and blush.

Skin care and hand care:

Tatcha Indigo Hand Cream (travel size) is a go-to for calming and hydrating, the full size one is actually compact enough to carry around with me, but the small one is best for those who prefer to carry smaller bags, the entire Indigo line is really good for sensitive skin and helps calm down irritation or flare ups, they have a four piece set called the Soothing Indigo Mini Set which I highly recommend if you want to try the line in smaller sizes
The Lotus Leaf and Camellia Mist from Peach and Lily was sent as a sample for me to try, it’s hydrating and refreshing with a soft citrus scent – the mist pump dispenses a fine mist which calms the skin. I’ve been playing with it for a few weeks now and am obsessed.
Tatcha Luminous Dewy Skin Mist (travel size) is the best-designed travel sized mist – it’s been a go-to staple for a long long time, the packaging is really the best I’ve ever seen. If you haven’t tried this you need to!
Le Labo Santal is one of my latest discoveries (actually from a few months ago), it’s not really a spring scent to me since it has sandalwood, amber and musk, but I still love it. At this time I’m still working my way through a few of the mini vials – I don’t know that I love it enough to buy the full size, but I suspect it’s because I’m feeling the spring to summer vibes.
Molton Brown Hand Cream in Pink Pepperpod is probably my favorite scented hand cream of all time, I just can’t get enough of the scent – I’m seriously considering buying the perfume version. If you love Molton Brown hand creams, they just launched the Dewy Lily of the Valley Star Anise which is the ultimate floral lily spring scent (review on this one soon).

Lips:

I’m always on lip overload when it comes to what I carry in my bag, right now I have:

Tom Ford Moisturecore Lip Color in Mustique (reviewed here) is such a pretty baby pink that is on the light side but doesn’t wash out the complexion.
Glossier Cherry Balm Dotcom is one of three new flavored lip balms from the line, I ordered immediately and have been obsessed with all of them – if you click this link here you can save 20% off your first purchase.
Edward Bess Deep Shine Lip Gloss in Lover’s Desire is a pretty peachy pink with a rich shine, I love all the glosses I’ve tried from his line, they add the prettiest healthy gloss to the lips. I like using them on top of lipstick. If you like a cool-nude, Nude Satin is amazing.
Edward Bess Defining Lip Liner in Natural (swatched here) is my holy grail go with everything neutral, if I were forced to live with one lipliner color the rest of my life this would be it, although his newest shade Barely is pretty awesome too.
Tarte Tarteist Lip Paint in Goals is a pretty full pigment glossy warm pink (review soon).
Tom Ford Lips and Boys in Eddie (on the lips here) is a a pretty shimmering cool beige neutral that’s easy to throw on for a neutral wash of shimmer.

Lip swatches with Anastasia Vintage as a comparison:

Eyes:

I have two items for the eyes in my bag, the By Terry Mascara is one of my favorites these days because it thickens and lengthens without smudging. Also in my bag is the Edward Bess Illuminating Eye Base in Dune. These come with a twist click packaging and brush applicator at the end. The one I have shown is a brand new one but I keep multiples so I don’t run out. It evens out the lids and preps the eyes for powder shadow. It’s my holy grail and comes in three colors. Swatched below next to Laura Mercier Caviar Eye Stick in Rose Gold which I use a lot as an eye base and also next to NARS Concealers in Custard and Ginger as a baseline (full concealer roundup from last fall here). The Edward Bess Eye Bases have a more pink undertone which is exactly what I want on my lids. Yellow concealers match my skin for concealing but on the lids the pink helps neutralize red a bit and evens out without making the face look sallow.

I hope you enjoyed peeking into my bag! Also hope the swatches helped in case you’re new to any of the color items I featured. What’s in your bag this week? Do you have any favorites you are carrying with you right now?

Press samples featured include the MustaeV Easy Go Brush, Tom Ford Mustique, Edward Bess Natural, Edward Bess Lover’s Desire, Lotus Face Mist, Tatcha Indigo Hand Cream, Truffle Clarity Clutch.

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