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Dior Vernis in Blossom #132, Perle #187 and Pampille #192 | Spring 2014

January 11, 2014

Dior’s Trianon Collection brings us six new nail lacquers this spring. I picked out three of the six shades from my local Nordstrom. You may find yourself shopping around various stores for all the shades. Some are only available to select retailers. The regular nail colors retail for $24 each, the matte topcoat retails for $25. The six shades this spring include:

photo Blossom_zps40696958.jpg photo perle_zps3b651df6.jpg photo Pampille_zps2340296c.jpg
photo Porcelaine_zps3bab2a74.jpg photo Bouquet_zpsc9cc8520.jpg photo Bloom_zps9aae2303.jpg

I picked out the three options available at Nordstrom. I’m typically a huge fan of Dior’s nail lacquer formula. I’ve found the coverage and pigment to be smooth and rich. The three spring shades I picked are stunning in the bottles. On the nails I found them to be extremely sheer.
Blossom #132 is a lovely sparkly sheer peach with gold flecks in the bottle. On the nails even with three coats I found it to be extremely sheer and disappointing. There is something about the color of this peach that is not flattering with my olive skintone. Below is shown with three coats. It pains me to give this one a huge thumbs down.

Comparisons below to Chanel Peche Nacree (spring 2011), Dior Abricot #236 (Sephora), Dior Sweet Orange (discontinued) and Chanel Miami Peach (discontinued):

Perle #187 is an interesting matte top coat. I found it lovely by itself, with a glossy top coat, or used as a top coat over other shades. It’s a bit high maintenance but if you have extra time for top coats or like to layer colors, this one is quite lovely.

Below swatched alone with three coats:

Below Dior Perle is shown in a few different ways, thumb to pinkie:
Chanel May
Chanel May with Dior Perle on top
Dior Perle with Dior’s Gel Top Coat 
Tom Ford African Violet
Tom Ford African Violet with Dior Perle on top

Pampille #192 looked so lovely in the bottle. It has the most beautiful mix of shimmer infused with a cloud-blue base. On the nails this was extremely disappointing. I found this one to apply unevenly and blotchy. The color with three coats looks faded. It didn’t go well with my skintone. I suspect it would make a good top coat over similar blueish colors. I thought this review with one, two and three coats on Pointless Cafe to be very helpful. Below with three coats:

I ended up being disappointed with two of three colors I picked out. When I bought them at Nordstrom my counter didn’t have testers available. They looked lovely in the bottles and given my past experiences with Dior, I thought these would be true to what you see in the bottle. I ended up re-gifting Blossom and Pampille to a couple friends who love sheers and layering colors. At this time I haven’t checked out the other three options for Dior spring. My recommendation is to try before buying.
Did you check out anything from Dior spring? Thoughts? Loves?

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The Top 13 Beauty Discoveries in 2013

December 31, 2013
The top 13 beauty discoveries of 2013 from The Beauty Look Book (reviews from the past year are linked for each item listed):
  1. Caudalie Divine Oil – my absolute favorite beauty discovery this year
  2. By Terry Baume de Rose – pure luxury for the lips, worth every penny
  3. Drybar The Chaser Shine Pomade – my holy grail hair product to add shine, remove frizz, long lasting and smells amazing, my husband also loves this for his hair
  4. Hourglass Ambient Lighting Powder – the perfect answer to glowing skin and my second favorite discovery this year
  5. Urban Decay Naked3 Palette – lovely rose-gold neutrals
  6. Chanel Taboo Le Vernis – a dramatic purple with red and silver shimmers, The Beauty Look Book’s second most popular post from 2013
  7. Dior Diablotine Le Vernis – the most striking intense coral red shimmer
  8. Tom Ford Illuminating Cheek Colors – unfortunately these were released in very limited quantities, but close alternatives you can get right now are MAC Magnetic Nude Skinfinishes in Magnetic Appeal and Fairly Precious
  9. Edward Bess Black Sea Mousse Foundations – I’ve mixed Light and Medium to get a good match, I’ve found that this is indeed the perfect full coverage foundation that gives a flawless airbrushed look that still manages to look natural, I truly hope Edward releases this to all his counters and in more shades (it was a QVC exclusive that sold out almost instantly)
  10. Chanel Les Beiges Powders – my favorite is 20 for all over, 30 and 40 work wonders for natural contouring and adding a soft glow of color to the face
  11. Diptyque 10-Piece Set – special release this holiday and the perfect way to try multiple scents at a more affordable price than buying the full sizes of each candle
  12. YSL Rouge Volupte Shines – my favorite lipsticks of the year for and The Beauty Look Book’s most popular post from 2013
  13. Chanel Illusion D’Ombre in Initiation – holiday 2013 release and the perfect bronze shimmer
I am thankful from the bottom of my heart for each and every one of my readers. You inspire me every week with your thoughtful and insightful comments/e-mails/tweets. I can’t express enough how appreciative I am for those of you who take the time to share your expertise and add your input to my weekly features. Your experiences, tips and tricks help others like myself figure out what works or how to make things work better. Thank you for following my blog and for your support.

What were your top beauty discoveries this year?

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Diorific Vernis Gold Coffret – Saks Exclusive | Holiday 2013

December 3, 2013

Saks has released an exclusive nail trio this year, the Diorific Vernis Gold Coffret ($70, limited-edition). The colors in this set include Almee #291 a sheer sparkly gold with tiny micro glitters, Aladin #668 a warm metallic copper, and Apparat #871 a shimmery red infused with gold. It’s a repeat of last year’s Printemps Christmas 2012 set released in
limited quantities and stores. It also contains Apparat, a repeat from
holiday 2011.

Each shade comes packaged in the beautiful holiday bottles with the gold twist off caps. Everything from the gold box to the packaging and colors is exquisite. Dior really created lovely nail colors for the holiday.

Almee #291 is a sheer sparkly gold. I suspect this will be a better top coat on warm colors to add shimmer and sparkle. The shimmer is infused with tiny clear glitters. It’s beautiful in the bottle and on the nails (even though it’s very very sheer). Here it is with three coats:

Aladin #668 is a beautiful warm coppery gold metallic shade. The metallic quality makes it apply slightly lighter on the nails compared to what you see in the bottle. I was impressed with this and how it applied pretty much streak-free (considering it’s a metallic). I didn’t have time to photograph swatch comparisons next to other Dior or Chanel golds, but Aladin is softer and lighter with a more refined shimmer giving it a softer look. Two coats below.

Apparat #871 is a repeat from holiday 2011 in special packaging. It’s a lovely neutral-cool red with gold shimmer. The pigment is incredibly rich and applies smoothly. I don’t think I ever swatched this one on the nails on this blog but it’s a lovely metallic red. (Nail wheel swatch here.)

Dior’s Diorific Vernis Gold Coffret Trio is a luxurious boxed set. The colors are lovely – especially for the holiday and I think it would make a lovely gift for the holidays. Even though I already own Apparat in the regular bottle I still think this is worth purchasing just for the packaging alone. It’s limited-edition and available in stores at Saks and online at Saks.com.

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Tom Ford Shameless Nail Lacquer Comparisons

November 21, 2013

Today I bring you a delayed comparison post for Tom Ford Shameless (reviewed here). You can definitely find colors similar since classic reds are very popular and done in almost every nail polish brand. I still find Tom Ford Shameless a gorgeous red cream that brightens the hands. My thoughts:
  • Chanel Dragon is the closest to Tom Ford Shameless. The Chanel is slightly cooler while the Tom Ford is warmer with a brighter quality.
  • Chanel Rouge Fatal is significantly darker than Shameless.
  • Chanel Rouge Rubis (reviewed here) looks electric next to any other reds I own.
  • Dior Marilyn (from the 2012 holiday set) is also very close in color, but more blue-based with a wine colored finish.

Tom Ford Shameless swatched below:

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Dior Enchanted Rose #451 Addict Gloss | Holiday 2013

November 19, 2013

Dior Enchanted Rose #451 Addict Gloss ($29.50 for 6.5 ml) is a new sheer shimmery peach gloss for holiday. It has a soft peachy pink base with gold and peach shimmers. It was love at first sight since I have a major weakness for peachy lipglosses. The color is on the sheer side so you may find it similar to many other peaches that provide a soft transparent peach tint.

Swatched:

For skintone reference I’m wearing NARS Tinted Moisturizer in Groenland mixed with Edward Bess Dewy Complexion Perfector in Medium (see swatches here):

 

I pulled a few peachy glosses to compare. For reference I’ll list prices and weight in case you want to compare brands. Left to right is Burberry Cameo #8 ($27 for 6 ml), Giorgio Armani Flash Lacquer #501 ($29 for 6.5 ml), MAC Imperial Light ($20 for 2.4 ml), MAC Dynasty at Dusk ($20 for 2.4 ml), Dior Enchanted Rose #451 ($29.50 for 6.5 ml) and Dior Spring Ball #343 ($29.50 for 6.5 ml, reviewed here too).

Dior Enchanted Rose looks most similar to MAC Dynasty at Dusk.

Dior Enchanted Rose is a beautiful easy to wear sheer gloss. It adds just the right amount of sheen to any lipstick. If you already have a lot of sheer peachy glosses you may want to skip, but it’s definitely worth checking out at your nearest Dior counter. I bought mine online at Nordstrom.com.

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Fragrance

All Roses | Aerin Beauty, Diptyque, By Terry, Chanel and Dior

November 18, 2013

A few things I’m loving right now all have a rose theme in common. I haven’t always been a fan of heavy rose-scented beauty products. It took me a while to get used to the floral fragrance in Chanel and Burberry beauty items. My current obsessions are all rose-themed.

Aerin Rose Hand and Body Cream ($40 for 4.2 oz) is the biggest splurge I’ve made for a hand and body lotion. The price is a bit steep but worth every penny. The tube is fairly large and it works wonders as a hand cream. I love the scent which smells like candied roses with very soft and feminine feel. The cream nourishes the hands and absorbs quickly but still keeps the hands feeling moist but not greasy. It’s a total must for me as a hand saver during the dry fall/winter months.

Diptyque Roses Candle ($28 for 2.4 oz approximately 20 hours of burn time) is a warm rose scent. It’s perfect for fall to winter. I like burning this by itself but it also burns nicely alongside Baies or Mimosa. I love that this gives a warm fuzzy feeling.

By Terry Baume de Rose ($60 for 10g/0.35 oz) is a cult classic. I’ve been eyeing this for years (literally years) but could never bring myself to splurge since I tend to avoid lip products that come in pots. (I prefer tubes for easier application.) However several beauty enthusiasts and friends insisted I try this and they pushed me over the edge. I’m happy to report that it’s every bit amazing as they claimed. The Rose Balm doubles for lips and nails, but I’ve only tried it for lips so far. It has a smooth texture and a unique luscious feel that I’ve never felt in any other lip balm. There is a rose scent but it’s very faint. How does it compare to my other two favorites? I’ll have to do more testing, but for now I can’t live without all three. The texture of the By Terry is slightly thicker and adheres to the lips better and feels like absolute heaven on the lips. My favorite part of Jo Malone’s is the scent (it’s heavenly) and packaging. I love the Hourglass because of how it performs combined with the spa-like scent it has. I’m hard pressed to pick just one – but will report after a bit more testing. Bottom line is the By Terry is worth every penny. I don’t ever want to be without this lip balm. (I keep wondering if the gloss version is good too?)

Chanel Rose Moire Le Vernis ($27, limited-edition) was previously reviewed here and here. There’s something so lovely about a shimmery rose-mauve pink. I’ve worn this numerous times since I first bought this color. If you haven’t seen it yet, I highly recommend you check it out at your next trip to the Chanel counter.
Dior Enchanted Rose #451 Addict Gloss ($29.50, limited-edition) is a new shade from the holiday collection. It’s an irresistibly gorgeous neutral peachy pink infused with gold shimmers. It’s sheer on the lips alone but works wonders when layered over an opaque lipstick. Review and swatches to follow very soon for it’s own feature.

Are you fan of rose-scented or rose-colored beauty products? What are your favorites?

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Dior Golden Snow #644 and Golden Flower #634 Eyeshadow Palettes | Holiday 2013

November 14, 2013

Dior has released two new quints for the Golden Winter Holiday collection in Golden Snow #644 and Golden Flower #634 ($60 each for 6g/0.21 oz, limited-edition, Nordstrom.com). Both contain a mix of shimmers and sparkly metallics. The colors in each palette are soft, smooth and easy to blend. Pigment level with the shimmery colors is medium but easily layerable. The sparkly shades in gold and silver are sheerer with a slight transparent-like base but they give a healthy dose of sparkle that applies evenly over the lids. I prefer to skip the sparkly shades for every-day wear, but when I tested them I found they worked best layered and pressed over the other colors to add glitz and shine. Pressing lightly helps minimize fallout.

Swatched side by side:

Golden Snow #644 is a cool-toned palette. It has a shimmery cool opal pink, a glitzy gold sparkle, a white sparkle, a light shimmery purple and a dark blackened-navy shimmer. It goes on very cool on my olive skin, but is still wearable by itself without having to mix in other shades. I do prefer something that is a bit warmer with less contrast but the colors are quite lovely on. It has a similar feel to last year’s Fairy Golds but Golden Snow is much cooler-toned (comparisons below).

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Golden Flower #634 is my favorite of the two palettes. It has a warm golden peach-pink shimmer, a soft champagne sparkle, a bronze metallic and a warm coppery brown along with a glitzy gold sparkle shade in the middle. This applies very natural on my eyes. It has a similar feel to many other warm neutrals but most other palettes do not have the same combination of colors in one compact. You can get the same effect combining Dior’s old Couture Golds (from a few holidays ago) with Chanel Spices. I do find the bronzey colors in Golden Flower unique and very pretty. This was enough for me to justify this palette.

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Two comparisons below to last year’s Dior Fairy Golds (more nude/mauve) and Chanel Spices (sheerer and less sparkly).

At first glance I thought Golden Snow might be similar to Le Metier’s Saint-Domingue (Saks Exclusive, reviewed here) but swatching side by side shows they are quite different.

Overall Golden Snow and Golden Flower are beautiful holiday palettes. You may want to try recreating the palettes with singles or mixing palettes you already own. I personally prefer the Golden Flower even though it has a similar vibe to past holiday Armani and Dior palettes. The colors are stunning for the holiday with the added sparkle shades which are beautiful to layer.
Both palettes retail for $60 each and are limited-edition. I bought mine from Nordstrom. You can find them now at Nordstrom, Neiman Marcus, Saks and all Dior beauty counters.

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