Cream Blush Archives - The Beauty Look Book

Makeup By Mario Soft Pop Plumping Blush Veil

June 15, 2023

There’s a new blush from Makeup By Mario called the Soft Pop Plumping Blush Veil ($30) and it seems to have exploded in popularity – it’s all over my Instagram feed! As a fan of many products in his line like the MoistureGlow Plumping Lip Serum, Ultra Suede Lip Pencil and Master Mattes I knew I had to try these new blushes. The colors looked fresh and easy to wear so I picked up 5 to try.

The Soft Pop Plumping Blush Veil is a cream blush with a subtle luminous finish. Not quite shimmery but when swatched on the arm you will see a glow and it’s not just from the creamy texture. They have sheer to medium finish, leaning more towards the sheer side. Finish is dewy but it does have a slight drydown after it sets. It still remains dewy looking on the skin but not as dewy as when you first apply.

You can apply easily with the fingers or any blush brush or cream product brush. Formula works well with a wide range of brush types and textures. I tried it with the Laura Mercier Cheek Brush, NARS Cream Bronzer Brush, Chanel Brush 101 and also Chanel Brush 110 and a few of the MAC Duo Fibre brushes.

Colors include:

Barely Blushing is a nude pink beige (doesn’t show up on my skin)
Pinch Me Pink is a light baby pink (pretty but too pale for my skintone)
Perfect Pink is a pretty cool toned pink
Just Peachy is a flattering bright peach
Rose Crush is a pretty rose brown

Below wearing:

Makeup By Mario Soft Pop Plumping Blush Veil in Barely Blushing with MoistureGlow Plumping Lip Serum in Apricot Glow

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Makeup By Mario Soft Pop Plumping Blush Veil in Pinch Me Pink with MoistureGlow Plumping Lip Color in Hot Pink

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Makeup By Mario Soft Pop Plumping Blush Veil in Perfect Pink with Tarte Maracuja Juicy Shift in Big Ego

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Makeup By Mario Soft Pop Plumping Blush Veil in Just Peachy with MoistureGlow Plumping Lip Color in Baby Coral

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MoistureGlow Plumping Lip Color in Rose Crush with Chantecaille Lip Chic in Honeysuckle (discontinued, Chanel Rouge Coco Baume in Sweet Treat is similar on me review here)

I have mixed feelings on cream blush in general so my review is going to be biased. Most cream blushes simply do not last on my skin alone. I always have to set with a powder blush on top to make it last longer than 2 hours and even with a powder on top it doesn’t always stay.

Based on the feed back from many of you over the years, I think most of you love cream blushes and a dewy finish (like the Westman Atelier Lit Up Sticks or Chanel Baume Essentiel). If you’re a cream blush lover I think you will really like these.

Here are my thoughts: I love the colors. I think they’re wearable, fresh, easy to wear and there is a good color range to go with a wide range of looks. Formula wise they’re not my favorite. After testing these I would have skipped all of them except Perfect Pink and Just Peachy. Formula is ok, it’s not groundbreaking or exceptional in my opinion. They have an ok lasting power for a cream but for all day wear I need to touch up at the 3 hour mark or else I look like a dewy glazed donut.

Lasting power is definitely improved with a powder blush on top. There is a trend going on right now to apply this cream on top of powder blush and to me it really doesn’t make that much of a difference in terms of lasting power.

Bottom line: Colors are great but formula is ok. I’m not super impressed with the formula and while I don’t think it is bad, it’s not the best for lasting power. Definitely not the best for hot humid weather. If you like the dewy cream blush look I think you will love these.

I’m still working my way through all the new blush launches this season. On my testing list I have the new Gucci Luminous Matte Blushes, Hermes Silky Blush Powder (new shades), Pat McGrath Divine Blush Glow Color Balms and Dior Backstage Blushes coming soon.

Have you tried the Makeup By Mario Soft Pop Plumping Blush Veil? What did you think? Did you like them or are they a pass for you?

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Available at Sephora.

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Charlotte Tilbury

Charlotte Tilbury Pretty Youth Glow Filters, Cheek Hug Brush + Collagen Lip Bath

June 20, 2018

Charlotte Tilbury launched Part 2 of her Beauty Filters collection focused on lips and cheeks. I picked up all three of the items including the Pretty Youth Glow Filter Kit in Pretty Fresh and Seduce Beauty ($60 each for blush duo + brush) along with the new Collagen Lip Bath ($35). I reviewed Part 1 last month on her Bigger Brighter Eyes Collection. Part 2 for lips + cheeks do not disappoint color and quality-wise.

Charlotte Tilbury Pretty Youth Glow Filters

The Charlotte Tilbury Pretty Youth Glow Filters are duo cream cheek palettes and the kits come with the Cheek Hug Brush at Nordstrom. It is only because of this brush that I think these palettes are worth the high price tag of $60. (The blush is available individually at Charlotte Tilbury’s website though.) In terms of quality and pigment both colors are really good but to me it seems as though there is very little product. These each contain a highlighter and blush – the brush is perfectly shaped and very well made to pick up both colors and apply them in a perfect blush/highlight motion. I simply swipe across the palette and apply in a swipe up method on the cheeks, then blend/buff with either my fingers or a separate blush brush. Texture is a silky cream finish. It’s truly a cream to powder like the description states. Color on me is medium to sheer.

Seduce Blush is the more neutral/muted option with a soft champagne and pinky-nude. There is a slight hint of shimmer in the pan but on the cheeks it’s very diffused and satiny.

Wearing Sunday Riley The Influencer Foundation 190, Charlotte Tilbury Eyes to Mesmerise Cream Shadows in Star Gold and Rose Gold mixed together, Collagen Lip Bath.

Pretty Fresh is a brighter option with a paler rose shimmer and brighter pink. This one is my favorite of the two. It can be built up for more color but blends out to a very nice flush.

Closer look at the Cheek Hug Brush:

Overall these had medium lasting power on me. I’m still experimenting with primers and bases to find what will last through the humidity. I felt like I had it all figured out last summer. Then we had about six months of truly mild weather here and I feel like I’ve forgotten what worked in humidity! I think these blushes are both excellent. I still really love her Filmstar Bronze and Blush Glow for texture and finish and think if she had made these Pretty Youth Glow Filters colors in powder form I’d snap them up in a heart beat and that others would too. I’d say in terms of finish/texture the lasting power and pigment, the Pretty Youth Glow Filters is similar to that of the Sisley Phyto-Twist Blush sticks.

Some swatch comparisons:

Collagen Lip Bath

Then there is the Collagen Lip Bath which all of my friends were texting me about asking if I had tried it and if I thought it was worth the price. I love all of Charlotte Tilbury’s Lip Lustres and Lipsticks so had high hopes for this even though it looked like it was basically a clear gloss. As soon as I opened my heart both sank and then rose back up.

When I removed the wand I was completely shocked at how little product there actually was in the tube. The wand takes up 1/2 the space! Then the actual wand itself is shaped like the top of a heart which is the cutest applicator I’ve ever seen. After getting over the shock of how little product there was I swiped it and fell in love. It makes my lips look lush and plump without any tingle or sting. They truly look super healthy and plump in the best way I’ve ever seen. It’s supposed to have peppermint extract to cool, but for some reason I did not feel any cooling sensation. It’s basically clear even though it’s a soft rose tint in the tube. Below is what my lips look like with clearish gloss, they almost always turn rose pink.

So in terms of performance and what it does, I 100% love it. I’m still peeved at how little product there is and I feel like I’m one who rarely gets upset about product weight. I still really like it and will use it up entirely in no time at all.

Overall beautiful. In my mind Charlotte Tilbury can do no wrong with the quality and color choice of her products. I think the Pretty Youth Glow Filters and Collagen Lip Products are beautiful additions to her line. I’d recommend them for anyone who wants a soft pretty and natural feminine glow. I do think the price points are a little steep, especially for the amount of product you get. I do feel the Cheek Hug Brush is really well made and makes the duos worth the splurge. For creams they aren’t too emollient but if you have super oily skin you might want to try before you buy if you can. As for the Collagen Lip Bath, I love it, but I don’t love the price. I wish it came in a squeeze tube like the MAC clear lipglass. The brush tip is nice and the design quite innovative but not a game changer to make it worth the steep price.

For other recent Charlotte Tilbury reviews:

Hollywood Flawless Filters Review + Swatches
Star Gold, Rose Gold, Duchess, American Sweetheart and English Beauty
Bigger Brighter Eyes Collection Review

You can find the Pretty Youth Glow Filters and Collagen Lip Bath out now at Charlotte Tilbury counters. I bought mine from Nordstrom. Also available at Charlotte Tilbury and Beautylish.

P.S. You can buy just the blush duo individually without the brush at Charlotte Tilbury for $40.

Have you tried these yet? What did you think?

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Base Makeup Chanel

Chanel Les Beiges Collection Summer 2017

July 28, 2017

The Chanel Les Beiges Collection this year brings us a some new products including a new foundation formula, new brush, two new cheek colors, a natural eyeshadow palette and some repromotes. I have four items I’ve been testing this month thanks to the Chanel team and am happy to report the collection exceeded my expectations. There have been mixed reviews about this year’s launch, after testing this I do think it’s going to be a hit or miss for you depending on how natural or pigmented you like your makeup. For me it’s a hit. In today’s review:

Les Beiges Gel Touch Healthy Glow Tint in 30 and 40
Les Beiges Healthy Glow Natural Eyeshadow Palette
Les Beiges Healthy Glow Sheer Colour Stick in 23 and 24

The Les Beiges Gel Touch Healthy Glow Tint is an interesting base. If you like BB creams or dewy sheer bases you will love this one. I had expected this to be a cushion – but it’s not really cushion like. It has a soft flexible mesh top where you press a sponge into to absorb product. There was some excess that had oozed out around the edges when I opened and I swatched with my fingers and barely saw any coverage. Quick tip is to use the sponge – it’s amazing what a difference there is in application when you apply it with the sponge. I’ve been a long-time fan of the original Les Beiges Healthy Glow Colour Powder in 20 as a setting powder but subsequent Les Beiges launches have often let me down – the newer bases and tints have been tricky to work with sometimes.

The Gel Tint compact is smaller around in size compared to other Les Beiges compacts, but it’s also taller.

Swatches of 30 and 40:

Comparison swatches to the Dior Dreamskin Cushion in 30 (which looks dark but actually matches once blended out), Saturday Skin All Aglow Sunscreen Perfection Cushion in 5 Honey and 6 Goldie, Sulwhasoo Perfecting Cushion in 25.

Coverage is sheer but still noticeable. There’s enough coverage to cover redness, even out skintone and see color on the skin. Shade-wise I wish there were more yellow-toned options. 30 looks a bit light and pink on my skin but it does adjust and darken on me – my skin is weird these days, some foundations darken quite a bit after they dry down. 40 is the right undertone but it matches when I have a tan. As mentioned in a few recent posts, if I’m out of the sun for even 2-3 days I lose my tan very quickly. Since there is sun everywhere in Florida it’s impossible to avoid the sun – so my skintone changes frequently. Long story short – I can wear either 30 or 40.

I think the Gel Touch Cushion is better suited for normal to dry skin, but even in the hot humid weather I’ve found it stayed put all day and didn’t slide off in the humidity. You do need to set with a powder – when testing this I set with the Les Beiges Healthy Glow Sheer Colour Powder in 20 and it helped to tone down the glow but still keep the skin looking radiant and glowy.

Next up are the two Les Beiges Healthy Glow Sheer Colour Sticks in 23 (sheer warm pink) and 24 (sheer apricot). Both have a very natural sheen to them and I believe 23 and 24 are new shades. I tried these when they launched a few years ago and found the pigment lacking once you blended them out on the skin. The pigment in this years’ has improved significantly – but they are still very natural looking. They have a satiny almost velvet finish so they’re not like regular creams. I found they lasted and stayed put all day.

Last but not least is the Healthy Glow Natural Eyeshadow Palette. Reviews on this have been all over the place in terms of reviewing the pigment. I found all the colors performed well with good pigment – they are all sheer to medium for a soft natural eye though. If you’re looking for high impact rich pigment this is not the palette for you. For me it’s a great fool-proof everyday kind of palette. If you have dry lids or us a matte primer the shadows most likely won’t show up as well as they are very soft – try using a more emollient base and the colors will show up better. I used the Laura Mercier Caviar Eye Stick in Rose Gold to prep my lids.

In the palette you have a sheer beige base, a soft cool brown, a soft warm brown, a satiny charcoal brown and a shimmering champagne. Everything is soft with a diffused look to them. For the person who wants natural definition to their eyes this is just perfect.

It has a similar vibe to the Dior Eye Reviver Palette which I found way too sheer and natural for me. It also reminded me a bit of the Urban Decay Naked2 Basics so I swatched them side by side.

A beauty look with just the Les Beiges Gel Touch Healthy Glow Tint in 30 on the left side. On the right look:

Face with the Gel Tint set with the Les Beiges Healthy Glow Sheer Colour Powder in 20
Les Beiges Blush Stick in 23
Le Rouge Crayon de Chanel in Beige Rose (all shades reviewed here)
Les Beiges Healthy Glow Natural Eyeshadow Palette all shades used
Diorshow Brow Styler in Universal Brown
Le Volume Mascara Waterproof in Black

Bottom line I like the collection a lot more than I expected. For me the winner is the Natural Eyeshadow Palette – it’s great for everyday when you just need a little color or a fool-proof conservative palette to add definition without looking like you have a lot of makeup on. I really like this year’s launch of the Blush Sticks – the pigment is a lot better than it was a few years ago but they still look natural. For a cream they stay put for a good amount of time but that being said they’re still creams so if you’re going to be outdoors in humid weather for an extended period of time they’re not going to be budge-proof. The Gel Touch Tint is going to be hit or miss for you depending on skin tone and skin type. I think if you like moisturizing dewy bases you’ll love this. I like it more than I expected and I found a few color matches although I would prefer it to have more of a yellow/olive undertone. I did just buy the Dior Forever Perfect Cushion in 21 and Forever Undercover Concealer in 30 and 31 and I’m testing some bases from Sisley-Paris so you may want to stay tuned for those reviews.

You can find the Chanel Les Beiges collection now online at Chanel.com and at all Chanel counters. P.S. The new brushes have launched as well along with some new nail and lip colors! I’ll be reviewing some of the brushes soon – I’m currently putting them to the test.

Have you tried anything from this year’s Les Beiges collection?

Press samples include the Chanel Les Beiges Gel Tint in 30, Les Beiges Blush Sticks in 23 and 24, Les Beiges Eyeshadow Palette and Le Rouge Crayon in Beige Rose. All other items purchased by me.

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Bronzer + Blush Fragrance Tom Ford Beauty

Tom Ford Paradiso Eye and Cheek, Sole di Positano, Soleil Blanc and Fleur de Portofino

April 12, 2017

I have some more Tom Ford Beauty newness to review in makeup and fragrance. I had already featured a large portion of the Summer Soleil collection last month and am still enjoying everything very much. After a bit of browsing online I noticed a few other products pop up called Paradiso in the Cream and Powder Eye Duo, Cream Cheek Color, Moisturecore Lip Color and Lip Color Sheer. Some other new launches includes a new perfume called Sole di Positano (already shown in this roundup here), Private Blend All Over Body Spray extensions to include Fleur de Portofino and an Dry Oil Spray in Soleil Blanc.

Up first are the scent and body extensions. I’m a huge fan of Tom Ford perfumes even though are on the expensive side. The Private Blends are my favorite and the best one I’ve bought include the Soleil Blanc and Fleur de Portofino. The latest is Sole di Positano which I’m obsessed with for spring. It’s fresh, green, bright different from anything I’ve tried before. Of course when I saw the body sprays and a dry oil spray I was intrigued. They are priced significantly lower so I had to investigate. I bought the Fleur de Portofino All Over Body Spray and the Soleil Blanc Dry Oil Spray and I have to say that the perfumes are the better buy for lasting power and strength. The Body Spray lasts a long time on me if I’m indoors but fades quickly on me if I go outside. Something with the Florida air, heat and my body chemistry doesn’t seem to want to hold the scent. The Dry Oil Spray has a very faint Soleil Blanc scent with a raw oil kind of scent if that makes sense. This one was a disappointment to me in terms of smell – I had expected it to be all kinds of amazing as I love the perfume, but I can barely smell it on me. That being said I had it on all over and my husband walked by me and said “wow you smell really good” which surprised me as I feel like the perfume version is more noticeable.

For color there’s a new Paradiso Cream and Powder Eye Duo. The cream side is lighter and more pink compared to Golden Peach while the glitter side is darker than Golden Peach. I love the cream from Paradiso and the powder from Golden Peach (go figure). I do think they’re different enough to justify both but you might disagree. I swatched them side by side so you can decide for yourself in the event you don’t have a counter near you.

Swatched below Laura Mercier Caviar Eye Stick in Rose Gold + Tom Ford Cream Color for Eyes in Opale (also reviewed here) as a reference for what I consider more champagne/neutrals next to Paradiso and Golden Peach.

For the cheeks there’s also a new Paradiso Cream Cheek Color which at first glance I thought was Pink Sand. If you put them side by side you’ll see the difference. Paradiso has the same gorgeous luminous glowy quality that Pink Sand does. Right now that I’ve gotten more color Pink Sand is almost highlighter material for me while Paradiso is more like a blush. I love this. I’ve only had a chance to test it for one day as it’s something I had to put on immediately – lasting power is quite good for a cream blush. I can’t say how it will perform in super hot humid weather yet but will keep testing it in the upcoming months as the season shifts.

Swatch comparisons to MAC Quiktrick Stick in Miss Cupcake/Tomato, Tom Ford Cream Cheek Color in Pink Sand, Paradiso and Pieno Sole, Tom Ford Sheer Cheek Duo in Paradise Lust. The cheek duo has more pigment and is less dewy than the cream cheek color.

A quick look with Tom Ford Cream and Eye Powder Duo in Paradiso, Waterproof Extreme Mascara, MAC Next to Nothing Foundation in Medium Plus (review soon), MAC Mineralize Skinfinish Natural in Medium Plus, Tom Ford Cream Cheek Color in Paradiso, Tom Ford Moisturecore Lip Color in Carriacou (also reviewed here), top by Rag and Bone.

For those curious, I did not buy the Paradiso Lip Color Sheer (I already own it, review here) or the Paradiso Moisturecore Lip Color – they are pretty much identical. I get a quick swatch of them at the counter.

Bottom line, I love the Paradiso eye and cheek items. I do think they’re worth owning even if you have Pink Sand or Golden Peach. For the body and fragrance, I wanted to love the body spray and oil spray – I just think the perfumes are the better buy, although I do like the body spray. I would entirely skip the oil. It added a nice sheen to the skin but I didn’t notice a lot of added hydration my skin other than a light oil. Brands like Caudalie, Moroccanoil or Nuxe have better body oils in my opinion. If you try one new fragrance this spring, I think it should be Soleil Blanc, Fleur de Portofino or Sole di Positano.

You can find all the items at counters now. Available online at Sephora, Neiman Marcus, Beautylish and Tom Ford Beauty.

Sole di Positano Provided for review consideration.

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Bronzer + Blush

Glossier Cloud Paint Review and Swatches

March 31, 2017

Glossier’s latest makeup launch is the a gel-cream blush called Cloud Paint ($18 each for 0.33 fl oz/10 ml, save 10% off your first order by using this referral link). These come in small squeeze tubes and have a very lightweight texture. There are four colors to choose from in Puff, Beam, Haze and Dusk. For me the packaging and product name are what spoke to me – how could I resist trying cloud paint on my face? I ordered them to try and after testing, I have mixed feelings.

These cream-gel blushes come in the cutest little squeeze tubes. As usual my order arrived in the cute pink bubble zip pouch. The four colors include Puff which is a super pale pink, Beam which is a soft peach, Haze a berry pink and Dusk a nude pink brown. Glossier recommends applying these with fingers and I tried both with my fingertips and a foundation brush. Using the fingers is probably the best way to apply so you waste as little product as possible, but I really prefer the brush method. Brushes are just easier for me and less messy for the hands. Finish is really sheer on these for a natural blush but you can build them without it caking or streaking. Dry down is a matte but in a natural looking way. They almost have a stain-like quality to them – on my arms and hands, removing with cleansing water does the trick but one swipe still left some color on the arm. On the face I found they lasted around 5 hours before starting to fade, the exception is with Haze which is the darkest color and lasted significantly longer.

Swatches with a heavy hand and then blended out:

Blended:

On the face with different coordinating lip colors, foundation worn is Tom Ford Waterproof Foundation in Sable (reviewed and compared to a few MAC colors here):

Puff is worn with YSL Volupte Tint-In-Balm #2
Beam is worn with NARS Velvet Lip Glide in Playpen (review here)
Haze is worn with Chanel Rouge Coco Stylo in Recit
Dusk is worn with Chanel Rouge Coco Stylo in Script (review here)

I have mixed feelings due to the sheerness and product size. I do think the sheerness was to be expected based on the product description as “seamless, sheer and buildable.” As one who finds that many blushes are easy to overdo – these are a nice change as they really give a natural look. For the face swatches above I had to layer at least 2 layers of product to get them to show up, and with some layering they do. I really like that on the Glossier website they show video application of all the colors on three skintones: light, medium and deep and you can see that they do indeed show up on darker skintones even though they are on the sheer side. I think all the colors are wearable and versatile – Haze is the only one I wasn’t crazy about because it gives a stained flush that I found a bit hard to blend.

Product size of these is really tiny – after just a few uses a significant portion of the tube was used up. The good thing is that they will be easy to use up before they go bad or dry up (I find some tube cream products are prone to drying up).

Pros are that these are indeed very natural and seamless. They blend nicely on the skin even on top of a powdered face. I had some concerns that the gel formula might cause my base to come off or that it might look streaky on top – I am happy to report that it blended well. I also like that there’s no detectable scent, they caused zero irritation or clogging, they are shimmer-free but don’t look flat. They have a youthful natural vibe to them that makes me feel like they’d be suitable for a wide range of ages. If you’re shopping for teens who are just starting to get into makeup but want something natural this is a great option. If these had been around in the early 2000’s I could see my college-age self wearing these. I’m in my mid-30s now and can see myself wearing them on a regular basis for an effortless natural look. I think anyone who wants a very natural blush will like these.

For me the pros outweigh the cons. As one who really doesn’t like gel blush because I simply don’t like the texture, I think these are great. They do take a bit of extra effort to layer for noticeable color but the extra time it takes isn’t a deal breaker. I don’t regret my purchase but I definitely don’t feel like these are must-haves. My favorites are Beam and Dusk.

If you’ve tried these I’d love to hear your thoughts! You can find them at Glossier for $18 each. You can save 10% off your first order by using this referral link.

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Bronzer + Blush Sisley-Paris

Sisley-Paris Phyto-Blush Twist

March 16, 2017

I’ve been exploring more from Sisley-Paris and my latest discovery is the Phyto-Blush Twist ($68 each for .19 oz/5.5 g). This is the first I’ve tried from Sisley makeup-wise and it was love at first swatch. These Phyto-Blush Twists are twist up cream to powder sticks for the cheeks. They have a soft creamy feel but dry down to a powdery finish when you blend. As far as scent goes it has a very soft light makeup kind of scent but it’s not noticeable to me unless I actually try to smell it straight from the tube (huge plus for me). They are enriched with Camellia and Shea oils to keep the skin hydrated, yet they remain powdery feeling with a fresh look for an impressive amount of time. There are four colors, unfortunately one seems to be sold out everywhere. I received these as a press sample with one of the most fun boxes I’ve ever seen, it came with game board of tic tack toe.

1 Petal is a pale baby pink cream, it has no shimmer and even though it’s pale, it still shows up on my medium skin, I suspect if I get any darker though it will be best worn as a base for other powder blushes because alone it might be too light
2 Fushia is a bright pink, it’s very pigmented but can be sheered out for a more subtle look
3 Papaya is a coral peach, this one also can pull bright but it’s easy to blend
4 Glow (the one that’s sold out everywhere) is a sheer champagne shimmer, it’s sheer-looking on my skin because it almost seems to match my skintone (see it swatched on Beauty Professor where it looks a bit more visible with the contrast to tan skin, often times we are the same foundation shade, but right now she is darker than me)

At $68 each these are very expensive but readers have been telling me for over a year now to explore the line and have sung praises of their skincare. I’ve splurged on a couple skincare items and really loved them. For the makeup line I this is the first I’ve explored from the line. I did not expect these to last as long as they did. Right now in South Florida we have a cooler week but even back on the West Coast with cool or warm weather I found it rare that cream blushes last all day without getting dewy. I was particularly impressed with the fact that these do indeed last a long time. They look good from morning to afternoon without getting dewy. Below is how they look on my medium complexion, I’m wearing Make Up For Ever Ultra HD Invisible Cover Foundation in 125/Y315 with the Kat Von D Lock-It Setting Powder (I just discovered this and love it).

Lip colors with each blush swatch:

1 Petal is paired with Tom Ford Lips and Boys in Douglas (review here)
2 Fushia is paired with Chanel Rouge Coco Gloss in Tendresse (review soon)
3 Papaya is paired with Tom Ford Clutch-Sized Balm in Pure Shores (review tomorrow!)
4 Glow is paired with Tom Ford Lips and Boys in Bradley (review here)

I’m usually a lover of peaches and coral blushes, but with this formula I find myself drawn more to the pink ones when I’m lighter in skintone. I like mixing the light and deep pink together for an in-between shade, but really all the colors are good. Glow is a nice one for that super natural looking sheen – it matches my skintone right now so it appears to just give the skin a glow rather than a sharper highlight. If you need a visible highlight this may be too sheer for you. Since it’s sold out I did a quick swatch comparison at home to find a dupe.

NARS Sheer Pop Multiple in Navagio Beach is the most similar (review here)
Marc Jacobs Beauty Dew Drops Coconut Gel Highlighter is more golden (review soon, but I LOVE THIS)
Becca Shimmering Skin Perfector Liquid in Champagne Pop is a lot more golden (review here)
Tom Ford Shimmer Shot in Spin Spin Sugar is more glowy and paler (review here)
NARS Hot Sand Illuminator is paler but has an almost identical effect with more glow (one of my favorites, really one of the best natural looking highlighters that doesn’t look frosted but also isn’t invisible and great for normal/oily skin, review here)

Bottom line very pretty, well made, long lasting and classic. They have a very chic French kind of feel in the sense that they can be worn for a natural barely there look, yet at the same time they can definitely be layered for more color. I like that there are two colors bright or deep enough that will show up on medium to tan skin tones. The pigment is good!

You can find the Sisley-Paris Phyto-Blush Twists at all counters now. Available at Neiman Marcus, Nordstrom, Saks Fifth Avenue, Barneys New York, Bloomingdale’s and Sisley-Paris.

Have you tried these before? If not do you have any Sisley-Paris favorites?

Phyto-Blush Twists provided courtesy of Sisley for review.

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Highlighters Lips Tom Ford Beauty

Tom Ford Beauty Spring 2017 – Shade and Illuminate Lips + Cheeks

February 10, 2017

For spring Tom Ford Beauty brings us two new colors of the Shade and Illuminate Cheeks ($80 for .49 oz) and six new lip duos called Shade and Illuminate Lips ($60 each for .12 oz). The cheek duos are very sheer, glowy and dewy looking while the lip duos have medium to full coverage pigment and a unique modern velvet matte cream finish. Paired together they make for a fresh kind of look for spring with options for those who want neutrals and also those who like more color.

The Shade and Illuminate Cheeks has never really been something that appealed to me mainly because of the dewy factor. I approach solid creams compacts with caution because they often get really messy inside the pans and also because I have normal combo skin. Most dewy pots and compacts are simply too dewy and glowy for my skin alone although I have used them as a nice base for powder blush. They help the color adhere better versus applying on dry powdered cheeks. My holy grail cream highlighters are the Edward Bess All Over Seduction compacts (available in 3 shades). I’ve been using them for many many years and they remain my favorite.

The two new Shade and Illuminate Cheeks are gorgeous in the pans. Sublimate has a soft berry with a soft pale pink glow. Scintillate has a pretty light peach with a light champagne glow. On the cheeks they give a barely there hint of glow and color. I do like them as a base for powder blushes but by themselves on the cheeks they almost disappear onto my medium-toned skin. If you want a little bit of glow to dab on top of powder or use underneath these are worth a look. If you need color I would recommend opting for the Tom Ford Powder Blush instead – it appears they’ve all been reformulated with a new more refined pearl finish and there are three new shades in Disclosure, Gratuitous and Inhibition (I ordered 2 and they are gorgeous!).

Swatches compared to the SS16 Shade and Illuminate (review here) and Cream Cheek Color in Pink Sand (review here). The new Spring 2017 duos were swatched heavily so you can see the color, but once you blend them they pretty much sheer out to almost invisible.

Beauty look below wearing:

Tom Ford Waterproof Foundation in Bisque (review here)
Laura Mercier Candleglow Powder in #2 to set (review of 1, 2 and 3 here)
Tom Ford Warm Soleil Eye Cheek Palette eyeshadows, two lightest shades (review here)
Diorshow Brow Styler #2 on brows
Tom Ford Shade and Illuminate Cheeks in Sublimate, both shades
Tom Ford Shade and Illuminate Lips Impulse, both shades mixed
OPI Nail Polish in Be There in a Prosecco
Jcrew stripe top (old style)

The Shade and Illuminate Lip exceeded my expectations and every color is just amazing. These are duo compacts that have two shades and a little applicator brush. The applicators have a sponge tip and a brush tip – I tried both but really just prefer to use clean fingers to dab or a regular lip brush. Swatched on the arm and hand they almost melt to a high shine cream finish. On the lips they are more matte with a velvety cream texture. When I read these were contour duos I was really skeptical – it just seemed like a gimmicky way of being complicated and trying to make you feel like you need two colors instead of just one. After trying these I can really appreciate the versatility and design. You can wear each shade alone, but mixing them creates a better look in my opinion. I like to apply the darker shade first then dab the lighter one on top mixing the two for a creamy almost stained look.

Color descriptions as I see them, they’re all creams, no shimmer:

Automatic has a super pale nude pink and a tan beige (think Blush Nude and Sable Smoke)
Impulse has a perfect nude pink and rose pink
Possession has a bright baby pink and a bright medium pink
Saboteur has a violet cream and stained berry plum
Nikita has two variations of red
Tantalize has a soft peach coral and bright coral

I swatched all six individually and mixed so it was like swatching 18 lip products instead of 6. Due to time constraints I won’t be able to pull any comparisons for the next month. If you follow me on social you know I just had my wisdom teeth pulled (all 4). Swelling finally went down a little and I was able to get these up for those who shop online or who don’t test lip products at the counter (I’m with you there on avoiding germs). I have a few personal things going on right now so I’ll be restricted on time over the next month.

My long-time readers know I love neutral lips, but I can’t help but really like Possession and Tantalize! I find it hard to wear bright pinks because many times they’re too cool, too bubblegum or have way too much blue. Possession has enough warmth that I can wear it without it making my olive complexion look off. Tantalize mixed is such a pretty coral especially for warmer months. My absolute favorite is Impulse though – it may look a bit boring to some but if that’s the case then I love boring. The deeper rose shade is really special.

As a long-time Tom Ford Beauty fanatic I’m really happy with the lip duos. The Shade and Illuminate Cheeks are nice but not must-haves. If you like products like the RMS Living Luminizer or RMS Mix Master then you’ll most likely love these as well. For me they’re a bit too dewy and if you have oily skin I would definitely say pass. If you want something fresh and glowy for the cheeks I’d recommend you opt for the Cream Cheek Color in Pink Sand, Cheek Color (any shade) or the Sheer Cheek Duo in Bicoastal instead.

You can find the Tom Ford Shade and Illuminate Spring 2017 collection now online at Tom Ford, Nordstrom, Saks Fifth Avenue and Beautylish.

Have you checked these out yet? What did you think?

Spring 2017 Shade and Illuminate collection provided courtesy of Tom Ford Beauty for review.

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