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Chanel Collection L.A. Sunrise for Spring 2016 – The Beauty Look Book Picks

January 3, 2016
Chanel Collection L.A. Sunrise

Spring beauty collections are usually my favorite of all the seasonal releases and the first one I’m reviewing this year is the Chanel Collection L.A. Sunrise launch for Spring 2016. I saw the collection a couple weeks ago in stores and picked up a few items. This one seems very different from the typical spring collection for Chanel – everything is very bright, vibrant and has a more summery vibe. I would say that at first glance most of it was not my cup of tea, but I think there are a couple stand outs that are not to be missed. The items I picked out:

Rouge Coco Shines in Shipshape, Mighty and Energy ($37)
Le Vernis Nail Gloss in Sunrise Trip ($28)
Stylo Yeux Waterproof in Purple Croc ($33)

Quick swatches of my picks and then more closeups and thoughts on each item:

Sunkiss Ribbon Blush is the star of the collection. It’s a stunning blush with a mix of five different shades. The surface is embossed in the most beautiful print, like a ribbon. I swatched the colors individually with a detail brush, but for the face, I just swirl a blush brush and apply to the cheeks. It’s a warm pink with coral on me – almost has a bronzed effect but in blush form if that makes sense. It adds life and warmth to the complexion with a subtle luminous glow. The powders do have shimmer but it’s not frosted and it’s finely milled. Texture is smooth and easy to blend. It’s pure love.

Many have asked how it compares to the Horizon Blush de Chanel from Spring 2012 – I miraculously still own it and swatch compared it below along with some other shades. The Spring 2012 is more pink while this year’s is more coral.

Blush Horizon de Chanel (discontinued)
Le Blush Creme de Chanel Affinite (discontinued, review here)
Hourglass Ambient Lighting Blush in Radiant Magenta (review here)
Tom Ford Blush in Wicked (review)
Chanel Blush in Tumulte (discontinued)
NARS Dual Intensity Blush in Panic

Rouge Coco Shines in Shipshape, Mighty and Energy ($37) are three bright but medium-sheer glossy lipsticks. I was immediately drawn to Mighty a cool pink. I decided to pick up the other two as well even though they are outside my comfort zone. They are bright but can be sheered out for a more wearable look. I like to apply these straight from the tube, but you can get more coverage and pigment if you apply with a lip brush. These are scent-free and taste-free. Lasting power is average – it has a glossy finish so it’s not super long lasting. At the same time it’s not one that will disappear within the hour (as long as you don’t drink or eat) but I don’t mind reapplying. They have a smooth luxurious feel and I find them moisturizing on the lips.

Swatches straight from the tube and then with a lip brush next to it:

On these lip swatches the colors are applied straight from the tube:

Le Vernis Nail Gloss in Sunrise Trip ($28) is a new formula of nail polish for Chanel. It’s called a Nail Gloss and it is indeed different from the regular Chanel polish. It looks almost navy black in the bottle but it has a jelly finish which applies as a bright gel-like color. It’s a bright but deep blue purple color. In some light it looks more purple, in others it appears more blue. It has a flawless smooth jelly finish that is streak free. I do get even coverage with two coats and the coverage is impressive for a jelly gel. You can still see a tiny bit of the nail underneath but there are no streaks.

Here it is with two coats and one coat of the Chanel Le Top Coat, but even without the top coat it has a very high-gloss finish that is very reflective, it’s so shiny it twinkles in direct sun as captured by the shot below:

Stylo Yeux Waterproof in Purple Croc ($33) it’s been a while since I’ve given anything a blatant thumbs down review. I am really picky with what I feature on this blog, and I am particular about what I purchase. If I’m going to share something with my readers I want it to be worth their while to read about. Even with items I am iffy about I try to review it with the thought that something that doesn’t appeal to me, might still appeal to someone else and try my best to be objective. I swatched this on my hand at the counter and it looked so pretty. It’s a unique metallic pencil with the prettiest bright violet shimmers. It’s possible mine could just be a dud, but I am really sad that this one is a complete fail.

Swatched with a very heavy hand:

The upside is that it’s smooth and glides onto the skin without any tugging. The downside is that it’s super sheer with one swipe, with several swipes back and forth I can build more color, but it’s very blotchy as a liner. Another downside is that it’s so creamy it never really set on my eyes which is strange because I’ve had such good experiences with other colors in this formula. I thought since the pencil acted more like a cream shadow I could smudge it on my eyes along the lash line as a cream shadow but once smudged the color just disappeared and it looks like a smokey mess. If you’ve tried any of the eyeliners in the spring collection please let me know your thoughts. I’ve tried several attempts to make this one work and so far it’s not going well.

There are some other items in the collection that I passed on. There are three Illusion D’Ombres and I thought I would fall in love with the Moonlight Pink shade – it’s a lovely nude pink, but when I swiped it on my hand it matched my skintone so I suspected it wouldn’t show up on the lids. It’s still calling my name so there’s a chance I might go back and try it again. The other two Griffith Green and Ocean Light were clearly outside of my comfort zone so I passed. There is also supposed to be a quad but I haven’t seen it anywhere yet – I’ve heard that it’s a bright one and that my local counters didn’t receive it but are expecting it to arrive any day. There are two other Stylo Yeux Pencils in a Blue and Green Shade, they looked super bright at the counter so I didn’t swatch them. The last item I passed on was the Rouge Double in Tender Beige. I’m not sure if this is a new color or a repromote – but I passed as well.

Overall, I think the winner is the Sunkiss Ribbon Blush. It’s so pretty and the pigment and texture are really good. It’s easy to blend and adds a nice glow to the skin. There’s enough color that it shows up but it’s not over the top bright. Sunrise Trip is a lovely color with a unique gel formula. I really like it but for right now it seems to have more of a summer vibe rather than spring. Still I do recommend it – I don’t own anything like it and do think it’s unique.

You can find Chanel spring at counters now. Online at Nordstrom, Neiman Marcus, Saks Fifth Avenue, Bergdorf Goodman and Chanel.com.

Did you pick up anything from the Collection LA Sunrise launch? If yes, what did you think?

48 Comments
Roundup Skincare

Best in Skincare and Grooming 2015

December 31, 2015
I discovered a lot of new favorites in 2015 for skincare. I’ve compiled a list of items I consider game changers that have made a significant difference for my skin over the past year improving texture, clarity, and smoothness. I struggled over 2014 with lots of stress with some life changes and didn’t take the best care of myself health-wise. It impacted my skin and took months to recover. In 2015 my husband also went outside of his comfort zone to try more in skincare and grooming. We’ve rounded up our favorites for the past year. First up, best skincare picks for me:

Shown above featured from left to right:
  • Le Mieux 4-in-1 Ultrasonic Anti-Aging Skin Perfecter* (review here) best cleaning device tool discovered this year, helps to clean pores and with gentle extractions that won’t break the skin
  • Glamglow Supercleanse Daily Clearing Cleanser (review here) best daily cleanser to help clarify skin, clean pores and help prevent breakouts
  • Tatcha Indigo Triple Recovery Cream* the entire Tatcha Indigo Line actually should be on the list as I’ve found every item I’ve tried to be a game changer for my sensitive skin. It’s great for those who have eczema, for me it helped moisturize and soothe irritated and inflamed skin on flare up days, you can try the entire line in the Soothing Indigo Mini Set
  • Charlotte Tilbury Magic Cream (review here) one of my top day creams
  • Eve Lom Brightening Cream* (review here and here) also in the top day creams which really helped with brightening the complexion and lightening dark spots and acne scars
  • Kate Somerville Dermal Quench and Dermal Quench with Retinol * (review here and here) experiencing the Kate Somerville line in person this year at the clinic in Los Angeles changed my life, I had always been interested in the line but didn’t know where to start, having an in person assessment and facial helped me pick out what would be best for my skin, the Dermal Quench items have been game changers to improve skin texture for day and night, helps give the skin a lift and also reduce redness
  • Hourglass Equilibrium Biomimetic Skin Active Serum* (review here) I wrote about this back in February after giving it a thorough 50+ day test (or night that is), it comes with a hefty price tag but I found it to be the biggest game changer for my skin, at the beginning of the year I had horrible skin texture, lots of dark spots from acne scars, breakouts on the chin area – nothing I tried seemed to restore my skin and at that point I was too scared to use anything with retinol. This completely restored my skin in a gentle non-irritating way. It’s a night treatment that helped with resurfacing and rebalancing. I continued using it weekly throughout the year as needed and I’m almost finished with the bottle. Whenever I feel my skin starting to act up this has hands down been the best treatment to help improve texture.
  • Tatcha Pore Perfecting Sunscreen* (reviewed here and here) best sunscreen I’ve ever tried that doubles as a matte primer, helps smooth skin, doesn’t look white on the face, keeps oil controlled
  • First Aid Beauty Ultra Repair Cream* back in November, my skin suffered a serious allergic reaction to Neosporin. I put it on a couple scabs that I had picked from acne to help with the healing process, instead my face literally blew up into a serious rash with tons of deep red bumps and swelling. It took around five weeks for my face to recover (it wasn’t bad enough for any prescription treatment, I was told the only thing to do was wait for it all to heal). The First Aid Beauty Ultra Repair Cream was one of the few creams I could use for my irritated inflamed skin. My friends swear by it. I really love it.
  • L’Occitane Divine Youth Oil* best facial oil that I like to use at night or weekends on no makeup days, helps restore the skin’s glow and moisturize without being too greasy, bottle lasts forever as a little goes a long way
  • Chanel Sublimage Eye Cream after all the eye creams I’ve tested this is still my favorite

For my husband, best in men’s grooming:

Men’s grooming favorites shown from left to right:

What were your skincare favorites? Any new discoveries that you found to be game changers?

Press samples featured with a * indicator next to the product names.
 
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Best in Beauty 2015: The Beauty Look Book Favorites for Hands and Nails

December 31, 2015

Hands and nails get their own favorites category this year. There were a lot of really good colors launched this year – unfortunately quite a few were limited-edition. My top picks for hand creams, treatments, polishes and other basics. Previous reviews linked for reference:
  1. Marc Jacobs Hi-Shine Enamored Nail Lacquer in Daisy – this is one I’ve owned for a couple years but everytime I wear it I always get asked “what’s on your nails?” it’s the prettiest soft pearly color that makes the hands look polished
  2. Chanel Le Vernis in Beige Rose – best baby pink cream nail color
  3. Dior Vernis in Lady – so sad this was limited-edition, the prettiest powder pink, I wish I bought a backup bottle
  4. Dior Vernis in Sunkissed – also limited-edition but still available at Macy’s and Saks Fifth Avenue, the best nude peach cream
  5. Tom Ford Sugar Dune – this was a limited-edition color from spring 2014 but made a comeback this year and was added to the permanent lineup, it’s the closest one to Dior Lady and such a polished beauty
  6. Louboutin Scarabée Nail Polish Collection – the three had to be the prettiest nail colors launched this past year, I was happy to get them before they sold out, looking forward to what they will release this upcoming year
  7. Rescue Beauty Lounge everything, in particular the R29 Collection – RIP RBL, you were one of my favorite nail polish lines, I was very sad to see the line go, but their polishes will always have a very special place in my heart
  8. L’Occitane x Pierre Hermé Hand Creams – L’Occitane launched such an amazing with their holiday collection this year, I fell in love with everything in the Pierre Hermé line and am embarrassed to admit how many shower gels and hand creams I stocked up on because they are limited-edition, right now you can still find Miel Mandarine and Pamplemousse Rhubarbe online but I don’t suspect they will be available for long
  9. Deborah Lippmann Cuticle Remover and Cuticle Oil – both of these remain at the top of my list for DIY nail essentials, I use them weekly and had to replace both because I use them so often
  10. Molton Brown Hand Cream in Pink Pepperpod – the most unique refreshing scent I’ve tried
  11. Tweezerman Pushy Cuticle Pusher – still the best one I’ve tried, although if you have any good ones to recommend I’m all ears
  12. Chanel Chataigne – from the fall collection earlier this year, initially I thought it was so similar to other vamps but it grew on me, best vampy shade launched this year
  13. Chanel Top Coat Lamé Rouge Noir – prettiest gold glitter top coat launched this year, I hope you were able to get one! It’s limited-edition
  14. Marc Jacobs Hi Shine Enamored Nail Lacquer in Wine Not – best metallic wine color released this year, it sold out almost instantly but was restocked online at Marc Jacobs Beauty, if you haven’t tried it you need to
  15. Nails Inc. 45 Second Top Coat – I don’t think I reviewed this in detail although I did mention it in this post here, one of the best top coats I tried this year and doesn’t cause shrinkage with other nail polish brands
  16. Formula X Nail Cleaner and Base Coat – I’ve found the Nail Cleaner to be a game changer, having a completely clean nail surface makes all the difference in helping polish adhere to the nails, the Base Coat has been a staple all year long, it’s what I’ve used the most and I can’t recommend it enough
Nail polish and hand cream fanatics – what were your favorites this year?

21 Comments
On My Radar

On My Radar / New in Beauty

December 23, 2015

Is it too early for spring beauty yet? For those looking forward, there is a lot on the horizon for spring that focuses on fresh and glowing beauty. I’ve already spotted sneak peeks of new foundation releases from Chanel, Laura Mercier, YSL, Armani, NARS to name a few – all to be launching soon. For now, here’s a roundup of new beauty launches on my radar that you can purchase right now if you need instant gratification. I placed a large order a couple days ago for some Dior spring items and also picked up a few pieces from Chanel spring. I’ll be testing them in the next week and have swatches as soon as I can.
  1. Chanel Collection L.A. Sunrise for spring 2016 has started to trickle in stores and is now live on Chanel.com, Nordstrom and Saks Fifth Avenue. It has a brighter feel than what I normally go for, but I love that everything is lively and colorful. What I picked up (reviews + swatches soon):
  2. Charlotte Tilbury Magic just launched the Magic Skin Trilogy with two new additions to her Magic Line. I’m a huge fan of her Magic Cream ($100) and couldn’t be more thrilled to see it available now in the Magic Night Cream ($145) and Magic Eye Rescue Cream ($60). I’ve been testing both of the new items for 3 days now, will have a report back after a few more days but I can say now that the Magic Night Cream is phenomenal – I wake up with glowing skin. (Also available in a Magic Skin Trilogy Set for $285.)
  3. YSL Spring Look just launched with a collection of pastels. I have my eye on the Glossy Stains ($36) in Tangerine Boho and Rose Folk along with the La Laque Couture Nail Polish ($27) in Love Pink.
  4. Bobbi Brown Extra Lip Tint ($33) launched a few weeks ago. I went to two counters to see if they had it in stock and both had sold out so I ordered it online. I’m excited to see how it compares to the ones from Clarins and Dior.
  5. Dior has a couple spring launches, one is a Lip Glow collection which features the Addict Lip Glow Color Reviver Lip Balm ($33) in Lilac. As a fan of the pink and coral, I’m really excited to see how this one wears.
  6. Dior Glowing Gardens for Spring has light and airy colors with powders ebossed with gorgeous floral designs. The Diorskin Nude Air Illuminating Powders ($58) in Glowing Pink and Glowing Nude look so pretty. There are two Eyeshadow Palettes in Blue Garden and Rose Garden ($63 each) but as one who rarely wears aqua or green eyeshadow, I will need to test before splurging.
  7. Tarte just launched their Chiseling Charmers Deluxe Contour Set ($24, online only). This looks promising.
  8. Glamglow’s latest is a peel-off mask called Gravitymud Firming Treatment ($69). I need this like yesterday.
  9. Henri Bendel Champagne Candle ($30), need I say more? My local store was sold out but had one burning in-store. It smells amazingly fresh.
My wishlist is already a mile long. I will need to do some sorting, thinking and prioritizing before splurging. What’s on your radar for the upcoming spring beauty season?
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Roundup

Holiday Makeup Must-Haves for a Glowing Beauty Look

December 16, 2015

During the holidays the bold red lips and gold sparkles are always in for beauty, but as a neutral makeup lover, I opt for colors that make the skin glow naturally for a fresh-faced look. It’s this time of year that I start to lighten in skin tone so I like to add and layer colors to give the face a little life. Also being someone who likes to wear red clothing during the holidays – I find that neutral makeup goes best with a red dress or sweater (although brighter pinks also complement red outfits). I’ve teamed up with Nordstrom to share some of my favorite beauty items along with a few new discoveries.

For glowing skin I like to layer bronzer and highlighters. The Charlotte Tilbury Filmstar Bronze and Glow Duos are incredible for adding life to the face. I have both the original Filmstar Bronze and Glow and the newer Medium to Dark version and like both. Either would make beautiful luxe gifts too for any beauty lover – especially the Filmstar Killer Cheekbones Set that comes with the sculpting brush.

Hourglass Ambient Lighting Powders, Bronzers and Blushes are in my top picks for a natural glowy look. The Ambient Lighting Bronzer in Radiant Bronze Light is the perfect mix of bronzer and highlighter swirled into one compact. It gives the complexion a radiant bronzed glow. I also really love the Ambient Lighting Blushes, Luminous Flush (shown below) and Incandescent Electra are my favorites. If you don’t own any yet, I highly recommend the holiday Ambient Lighting Edit Palette. It’s oh so gorgeous!!! I own 5 of the 6 shades individually and although it would make an excellent travel companion, I decided to pass this season.

Hands down the best highlighting duo launched this year is the Tom Ford Skin Illuminating Duo in Moodlight. It has a pearly opal color and a medium light tan champagne. Together they give the skin a candlelit glow that’s just so so so pretty.

Armani Fluid Sheers are always a favorite to add a glow on top of the cheek bones (I apply after foundation and powder and dab it onto the cheeks). They’re also great to mix in with foundation to add luminosity in a natural way. #2 is the classic champagne ivory shimmer and #17 is a newer one that’s the prettiest neutral pink. I have a few more shades swatched below.

For eyes, I like to keep things simple and light. I’m all about a champagne base and I’ve finally mastered the liquid liner application (success!). The best neutral quad is Tom Ford Nude Dip (brand new fresh one shown below). It is on the shimmery side but I don’t think it’s over the top. Armani Eye Tints offer a nice wash of color, there are lots of neutrals – many of which look similar but have slight variations in undertone.

Other champagne favorites include NARS Velvet Shadow Stick in Goddess (pretty much budge-proof once it sets), Laura Mercier Caviar Eye Stick in Rosegold (super creamy and easy to blend, if you have oily lids it might be too emollient), Burberry Wet and Dry Glow Eyeshadow in Shell (the perfect shimmer for the lids) and if you want something more glitzy Armani Eyes to Kill in #8 is pretty awesome.
I’ve been experimenting more with different kinds of liquid eyeliners this year. I’ve found so many good ones. Tom Ford Eye Defining Liquid Pen still remains at the top of my list. Burberry’s Effortless Liquid Liner has a felt-tip stiffer tip which is also super easy to use. Both colors are super rich black shades and stay true-to color (some liners I’ve tried dry to a lighter color and look grey on my skin).

To add a bit of definition or color, just add a smudge of something deeper along the upper lash line. I am really loving the Chanel Illusion D’Ombre in Rouge Noir that is new for holiday. Charlotte Tilbury Color Color Chameleon Color Morphing Eyeshadow Pencils are super long-lasting. They are creamy enough that you can apply and smudge/blend with ease, but once it sets, it stays put with impressive lasting power.

Reds and berries and plums are always in for holiday. I love a good plum, but as one with full lips, I always feel so self conscious with reds or brights. I feel like they draw extra attention to my lips. I prefer fresh colors that make the face glow. I’ve been obsessed with the Tom Ford Lips and Boys launch this year. There are 25 new shades, I will have swatches of 12 of my picks soon (I promise!). Most of the new colors have shimmer in them, but it’s a luminous shimmer for most. From what I recall there were only a few glitzy colors in the bold range. Demsey is the perfect peachy color (it’s a darker and less frosty version compared to last year’s William). Ansel is a gorgeous bright warm pink shimmer (this fits the gap I’ve seen in the Tom Ford line for something that’s in between pale and super bright). Malik is the most intriguing cool lavender mauve with gold shimmer (not the most holiday-like color, more for spring, but layer a gloss on top and it transforms into a gorgeous mauve). If I found this 10-piece Lips and Boys Set under my Christmas Tree I think I would die of happiness.

I’ve been playing with some of the Burberry Kisses Glosses. They were reformulated along with the Kisses Lipsticks (which I think are the best scent-free lipsticks on the market). Pale Nude is my kind of color – shimmering gold nude. Coral Rose is a sheer but pretty shimmering pink. Antique Rose is a mauve with a hint of silver sparkle. They are scent-free and taste-free. Texture is glossy and smooth. Lasting power is average for a gloss, but I don’t mind reapplying after a few hours.

For holiday fragrance I’ve been loving the Chanel Allure Parfum Bottle which is a concentrated version of the perfume. It comes in a bottle with a dabber. I bought mine which is the larger size in Paris over the summer (which is still compact in size). I was thrilled to see it available in the US in the smaller size. Another layering combination I’ve been loving lately is Jo Malone Peony and Blush Suede spritzed over Blackberry and Bay. These minis are in the Cologne Collection Set (5 colognes) which are perfect for putting in your clutch.

I hope you found this roundup helpful if you’re looking for ways to add a natural glow to your beauty routine this holiday. I am always trying to be braver in wearing bold reds and plums on the lips, but I like makeup that makes me feel comfortable and a better version of myself. There are a number of ways to add a bit of color but still look natural and there are tons of options to pick from at Nordstrom (it’s my favorite place to shop because they have the majority of my favorite brands). If you’re shopping for gifts online, take note of their holiday shipping deadlines here.

What’s your beauty routine for the holiday season? Do you like to add bold shades for a glamorous bright look? Or do you like to keep things neutral too? If you have any favorites or go-to’s you’ve been loving please share! I always get such great recommendations and ideas from you 🙂

This Laura Mercier Lip Glace in Rosegold also looks like the perfect glowy gloss, I’ve had my eye on it but haven’t tried it yet – if you have what did you think? Is it a must-have?

Many thanks to Nordstrom for sponsoring this post. All opinions my own.

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Uncategorized

Lip Balm Testing and Recommendations for Winter Weather

December 14, 2015
Winter Lip Treatments Balms

Above: Tray from J.Crew (similar here and here), Clare V Wallet Clutch, Celine Knot Bracelet, Gorjana Crossover Cuff

I’ve been testing a number of new-to-me lip treatments, balms and oils since late fall. I did a roundup of rosy red tinted lip treatments for holiday last month, but it’s been a year since I rounded up what I’ve been testing and loving in the non-tinted version. Today after weeks and weeks of testing, I have thoughts on 16 different lip balms in multiple formulas to share today. I’ve split the lip balms into three categories: the pots, the tubes, and the squeeze tubes.

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Potted Lip Treatments

Fresh Dior Chanel Tatcha Nuxe Lip Balms

Some of my favorite lip balms formulas are in pot format even though I prefer the tube or stick version so I don’t have to stick my finger in. I’ve raved about the By Terry Baume de Rose so many times I thought I’d round up some others I’ve been testing.
  • Fresh Sugar Nourishing Lip Balm Advanced Therapy ($30) – I had high hopes for this one as I really like the stick sugar lip balms but find they can get soft and be prone to breakage. One in pot format seemed more ideal for a soft formula, but this one is actually harder in texture. I had to take a lip brush to break the surface and get enough product for my lips. With just fingers I could barely get anything on and the result was a barely-there veil of moisture. If you dip into the surface and dig out enough of the product to layer on the lips, it makes the lips feel moisturized, smooth, slightly minty and cool but without the tingle. Unfortunately it doesn’t give the lips a long-lasting moisturized feel. I would say the effects are immediate and temporary for fall to winter weather. It would be better suited for warm weather.
  • Nuxe Ultra-Nourishing Lip Balm Rêve de Miel ($19) – This is one I bought in the limited-edition packaging, but the formula is the same as the regular pots with the white caps. This is an ultra creamy highly concentrated rich balm that smells like honey and grapefruit. I find it on the thick side of creamy so it really coats the lips with a cushion of moisture. It stays put and doesn’t slide around. It comes in a hefty glass jar. The scent is very natural and barely has any taste. I like this one for an ultra rich and creamy treatment.
  • Chanel Hydra Beauty Nourishing Lip Care ($50) This is one I used up and repurchased. I go back and forth with this one, mainly because it comes with a very high price tag. It’s smooth and lightweight in feel but does moisturize the lips. If you read my post from last year I said I would probably use it to the end but not repurchase (well I ended up repurchasing). It’s a good basic lip balm that works for me, but I think others like the Nuxe or the Clarins Lip Oils have a deeper more moisturizing treatment and more affordable.
  • Dior Crème de Rose ($28) – This has been on my radar for years and I finally bought it and tried it this year. It’s super smooth and creamy without the greasy feel. It has the most lush rose scent, similar to By Terry but slightly less floral/sharp which makes it easier for those with sensitive noses. It’s very hydrating and the effects truly make a difference in the moisture of the lips.
  • Tatcha Camellia Nourishing Lip Balm ($36, also in the Travel Kit and several other holiday sets) This is an extra special lip balm. It’s such a unique formula. The base is a clear jelly-like balm that smells refreshingly sweet. It’s dewy and adds the perfect amount of moisture to the lips and feels lightweight. It’s topped with a thin layer of 24-karat gold leaf that gives it an ultra luxe look. It’s a winner and I really can’t imagine life without it.

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Lip Balms in Squeeze Tubes

Amore Pacific Laura Mercier Lip Balm L'Occitane First Aid Beauty Bite Beauty Malin+Goetz

Squeeze tubes are the best format for lip balms in my opinion. They’re compact, easy to use and don’t require fingers. Many come with angled applicators which makes it easier to apply these days. A few new ones along with tried-and-true favs:

  • Amore Pacific Moisture Bound Lip Treatment ($35) This is something I tried because so many of my readers raved about AmorePacific. This is a tiny tube of balm but the formula is excellent. It offers instant relief to super dry lips. There were a few days my lips were painfully dry and this helped restore them to their natural state. I would say that it’s almost entirely scent and taste-free. I can’t detect any scent but it’s possible there’s a slight natural scent to it. Out of all the tubes, this is in my top 3.
  • Laura Mercier Infusion de Rose Lip Balm ($24 or in the Rose Infusion Set* for $110) This is a new launch from Laura Mercier. It was first exclusive to the Rose Infusion Set, but you can purchase it separately now at Laura Mercier. It’s a nourishing lip balm that smells like soft roses. It has Rosehip Seed, Kukui, and Macadamia Seed Oils helps soothe and comfort lips – I really like the way this feels on the lips. There is a slight floral taste to it – it’s not bad or too strong, but definitely noticeable. I really like the way it hydrates the lips.
  • L’Occitane Shea Butter Lip Balm * ($25, from the Hugs and Kisses Set) is one of the most gentle lip treatments for super sensitive skin that’s still hydrating. Since it’s lightweight the lasting power isn’t as long as some other treatments, but it still does the job at adding moisture and soothing the lips. Many lip treatments make my lips go numb (like Kiehl’s and almost all the drugstore brands), whenever I’m in doubt I go with L’Occitane.
  • L’Occitane x Pierre Hermé Pamplemousse Rhubarb Lip Balm ($25 from the Voyage Trio Set) is part of the Pierre Hermé Collaboration. It has the most delicious grapefruit scent to it and adds a tiny bit of moisture. As a quick fix it’s good, but the formula is pretty light in terms of moisture and texture. If you don’t mind reapplying the scent is heavenly, but if you’re looking for a deep treatment, you may want to pass.
  • First Aid Beauty Ultra Repair Lip Therapy* ($12, or in the FAB to the Rescue Sampler Set $32 and Freshen Up Duo $15) This is a life-saver for dry lips. It’s got a minty scent which I’m not the biggest fan of, but it’s a pleasant mint. It’s super smooth and emollient and has just the right texture of creaminess to it. It gives the lips instant relief and really helps with dry lips.
  • Bite Beauty Agave Lip Mask in Champagne ($26, swatched here, Smashed swatched here) is a tinted treatment, but it’s pretty much clear. This is one of the best lip treatments I’ve tried. It’s super plush and hydrating. I use it on no-makeup days and it fixes dry lips like magic.
  • Malin + Goetz Mojito Lip Balm ($12) is a long-time favorite. There are two formulas of lip balm, both are equally good. I think the Mojito one is fun because it’s scented in a fun mojito flavor. It has a clear almost gel-like consistency. I like the way this feels on the lips the best out of all the lip balms. It’s moisturizing and you can feel it, but it’s not heavy or greasy.

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Twist Up Sticks and Oils

lip oil clarins hourglass nuxe lip balm caudalie lip balm

Last but not least, a few others in oil and stick format:

  • Clarins Instant Light Lip Confort Oil in Honey* ($24) Lip Oils were really popular this time last year. I tried a few different brands and found I didn’t really like the concept of oils because many just felt too runny and thin. The Clarins is phenomenal though. It does offer instant comfort and a natural shine. Honey is pretty much clear on the lips but it has a thickness to it which prevents it from feeling like it will slip off your lips. Cafe Makeup did a review on the pink version. I think her thoughts and review are excellent.
  • Hourglass No. 28 Tinted Lip Treatment Oil in Icon* ($42, review here) is also tinted. I’ve tried both the original clear and tinted version. Both have a really good nourishing formula I find unique and extremely hydrating. The red one is fun for holiday and pretty sheer/natural so if you’re a neutral lip lover like me, it’s definitely wearable. It’s one of the deeper treatments I’ve tried for lips – it has a press pump to dispense product. I think it’s definitely worth the splurge.
  • Nuxe Lip Moisturizing Stick Rêve de Miel ($9) is something I’ve loved and used up. The stick for right now is probably too light in the sense that it doesn’t give me enough moisture. If you’re a Reve de Miel fan, go for the pot instead.
  • Caudalie Lip Conditioner ($12, also in this Winter Favorites Set or Winter Duo) this is my favorite twist up tube balm. It has a really nice fruity fresh scent and taste to it. It glides on the lips easily. It hydrates my lips nicely. I used up the tube from last year’s post and repurchased it in one of the duos.

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If you’re looking for a new lip treatment I hope this roundup helps give you some ideas of what to try. My bottom line:

Top Formula Picks for Fall/Winter Weather

Most hydrating formulas:

AmorePacific Moisture Bound Lip Treatment
Bite Agave Lip Mask (any of the colors)
Dior Creme de Rose
Nuxe Rêve de Miel (pot)
Clarins Lip Oil

Best for everyday, lightweight but still moisturizing:

Caudalie Lip Conditioner
Malin+Goetz Mojito Lip Balm
Tatcha Camellia Lip Balm

Best in luxury:

Hourglass Lip Oils

Ones I’d pass on if I could do it over:

L’Occitane Pierre Herme Pamplemousse Rhubarb – nice but not hydrating enough
Fresh Sugar Nourshing Lip Care – just not what I expected

As always, I’d love to hear about your favorites! If you have any tried and true – please share in the comments. 

Some press samples included in this post indicated with a * from L’Occitane, Tatcha, First Aid Beauty, Hourglass, Clarins.
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Chanel

Chanel Les Tissages de Chanel in Tweed Pink – Cyber Monday Launch

November 30, 2015

On the nails: Chanel Le Vernis in Beige Rose

Today for Cyber Monday, Chanel launches their Les Tissages de Chanel Blush Duo Tweed Effect Blush in Tweed Pink #10 ($48, 5.5 g/0.19 oz, limited-edition, Chanel.com exclusive). This is a blush inspired by the iconic Chanel tweed fabric. The blush has a sparking overspray of gold and silver sparkles and once removed, a mix of two colors of pink blush is revealed underneath. Today I’m thrilled to be able to share the Cyber Monday launch of Tweed Pink #10.

Long time Chanel fans like myself will remember these Tweed Effect blushes from many years ago. There were a number of shades and limited-edition colors and then much to my dismay they were discontinued. These were among my favorites because they give the cheeks the perfect natural glow. Tweed Pink #10 was a classic used on me on almost every Chanel makeover I had. As soon as I saw the news that it Tweed Pink would launch for Cyber Monday I was extremely curious to see if it was a new one or a repromote. They share the same name and same product number. I pulled out the one from my stash and after testing, I do think the newly launched Tweed Pink does seem to me almost identical to the original. Those who missed out might want to explore this one now that’s it’s back. I have a full review + swatches of the 2015 release and if you scroll down you will see comparisons from the original to the new version.

Tweed Pink #10 is a light soft pink mix of two shades. All the Les Tissages de Chanel had an overspray and this year’s version also has a light dusting of gold and silver sparkle. Underneath you see a mix of two colors intertwined in a tweed-like effect. Tweed Pink has a mix of a deeper pink and a pale pink, both on the neutral-cool side. The color is glowy with super fine shimmers mixed in. On me I’ve found these to be a blush-highlighter mix in one. The colors are very natural and impossible to overdo which is nice for those who want a natural-looking blush. On the skin Tweed Pink is a light silvery cool pink but after it sits and warms up on the skin it does darken very slightly to give a natural baby pink flush.

With overspray removed:

Swatches below, I removed the overspray first and swatched the true color underneath. This is on bare skin without any base:

At an angle with flash, the flash captures the sparkle/dimension, on the skin it’s more of a subtle shimmer, not frosty at all:

Now for a few shots featuring the original versus new. The effect is almost identical, the difference is in the light pink color. The original Tweed Pink has a warmer light pink color, almost beige while the newer one has more of a cool pink undertone. The effect on the face/cheeks is still almost the same. You will be able to see them swatched side by side below as well to judge for yourself how similar or different they are. I do believe the newer version is slightly cooler-toned with a more visible glow. Comparing the labels, the product weight/amount from original to new is the same.

Close ups of the pans:

Swatch comparisons to a few other baby pink blushes:

Burberry Light Glow Natural Blush in Peony and Misty (reviewed here)
Chanel Les Beiges Healthy Glow Sheer Colour Stick No. 21 (reviewed here)
Chanel Joues Contraste Lumière Coups de Minuit (reviewed here)

I’m really happy that Chanel had decided to bring this back. I hope this means that they will be launching more colors in this formula as I really like the natural glow these provide (although at this time I don’t have any more information). In my blush testing experience the Tweed Blushes are easy to use, impossible to overdo and effortless to apply. For those who like a classic natural blush look to compliment the rest of your beauty look, I think you will really like Tweed Pink.

If you’re a long-time Chanel fan, do you still own any of the tweed blushes? If not, what’s your current favorite baby pink blush? The Les Tissages de Chanel in Tweed Pink ($48) is available in limited quantities, currently exclusively at Chanel.com.

http://click.linksynergy.com/fs-bin/click?id=MeQoh28EORo&subid=&offerid=407615.1&type=10&tmpid=17022&RD_PARM1=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.chanel.com%2Fen_US%2Ffragrance-beauty%2FMakeup-Blush-LES-TISSAGES-DE-CHANEL-88711%2Fsku%2F88712

Many thanks to the Chanel team for sending Tweed Pink for review.

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