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Dolce and Gabbana

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Loving Right Now / In Rotation

May 10, 2014

I have quite a few items in rotation now, both new and older loved items. Currently testing out the new Chanel Les Beiges No. 02 (the darker version), new Hourglass Extreme Sheen High Shine Lipglosses in Ballet (darker pink) and Canvas (nude rose), NARS Malacca Eyeshadow from the summer collection, some of the newly repackaged NARS Lipglosses in Angelika, Istria and Sweet Dreams. (Thoughts and reviews to come in the next couple weeks.)

Some summer items I’ve been loving include the new Reflets D’Été de Chanel Le Vernis colors in Mirabella and Tutti Frutti (first look here), the new Illusion d’Ombres in New Moon and Utopia are to die for (review here).
For fragrance I’ve been reaching for florals like the new Dolce by Dolce & Gabbana (review here) as well as Frederic Malle Carnal Flower.

Two classics from Caudalie and Dior: the Caudalie Divine Oil which is perfect for warm weather, it’s lightweight but moisturizing and absorbs quickly into the skin. Deborah Lippmann Cuticle Oil is a must-have for my frequent polish changes when I swatch colors (nail care essentials coming up soon), Diorskin Airflash comes highly recommended by many of my close friends (several used it at their weddings). I’ve tried it years ago and didn’t like it because I thought it was a bit heavy, but just tested it again at the counter and have decided to give it a second go.
For new stationary and organization, you must check out Garance Doré’s new stationary collaboration with Rifle Paper Co. She has so many chic adorable options from cards, notepads, note cards etc. I found her items online at Rifle Paper Co. and the online shop Garance Doré Goods.
What’s been in rotation for you this past week and weekend?

PS – The Beauty Look Book is now on Facebook, I’m working on updating my sidebar icons. Stay tuned for a giveaway in the next week!

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Dolce by Dolce & Gabbana

May 9, 2014

Dolce Eau de Parfum is the latest fragrance release by Dolce & Gabbana this spring (ranges from $29 for 0.25 fl oz up to $112 for 2.5 fl oz, at Sephora). It has a sophisticated delicate feminine mix of White Daffodil flowers, Neroli leaves and White Amaryllis. The combination gives Dolce a fresh and light airy feel with a very distinct sweet floral twist. The Dolce bottles have the an elegant design with a beautiful white floral cap with intricate details and finished with a tiny black bow. Depending on your size preference, there are four size options ranging from a 0.25 fl oz roller ball to a 2.5 fl oz bottle. (The roller ball size perfume is exclusive to Sephora.) Dolce & Gabbana kindly sent the largest size for me to try.


Notes:
Neroli Leaves, Papaya Flower, White Amaryllis,
White Daffodil, White Water Lily, Cashmeran, Musky Notes, Sandalwood.

Style:
Delicate. Joyous. Avant-garde.

I’ve been testing Dolce extensively for the past week and put it to the
test with close loved ones. All of them love it on me. It’s a sweeter and more floral compared to what I typically gravitate towards, but it has a refreshing uplifting feel that I really like. It has a good mix of soft florals and crisp sweetness. The strength and throw is quite good, I liked that it only needed a single spritz
for application. The lasting power is quite good lasting all day without fading, but it’s still soft enough to wear for everyday. Those who love white florals will find this a pleasant addition to their spring fragrance collection right now as it has a nice day-time spring vibe.

I’m in love with the intricate design of the Dolce perfume. It’s truly exquisite.

Dolce Eau de Parfum is available now across all Dolce & Gabbana retail locations in stores and online. Sephora has the most size options for you to choose from and Beauty Insiders are offered triple points on all fragrance purchases from Sephora through May 11th. Bottom line: Dolce is an uplifting polished white floral perfect for to brighten one’s mood for spring.

For more on Dolce & Gabbana and to stay up to date with their latest be sure to follow them on Facebook, Twitter @DolceGabbana, Instagram @DolceGabbana and search for #DGDolce and #DGBeauty.

This post was sponsored by Dolce & Gabbana. All thoughts and opinions are my own. All photographs taken by The Beauty Look Book. For more information refer to my Disclosure Policy.

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Dolce & Gabbana Smoky Eyeshadow Quad

May 23, 2013

Dolce & Gabbana has released a new eyeshadow quad called Smoky ($59 for .8 g/0.16 oz). It’s part of the new True Monica Collection (more details on Makeup and Beauty Blog, Style Bistro and Refinery29). I ordered mine from Saks Houston sight unseen and was thrilled with this beautiful neutral palette. The colors have enough warmth to create a stunning smokey eye that isn’t too harsh. This palette has a soft matte black, a chocolate brown shimmer infused with gold flecks, a soft sandy beige and a white pink-gold shimmer. Layered from lightest to darkest creates a goof-proof smoky eye. This might just be the best smoky eye palette I’ve tried yet. Each shade has a beautiful blend of different colors and shimmers to create depth.

In full sunlight:

The pigment is rich but natural. Each shade applies very smoothly and are layerable with each other. The pale pink is a white-pink-gold that flashes different shimmers. I couldn’t capture the complexity of the color but it’s stunning on the skin. Some swatches – this may look like a boring palette at first glance, you have to try it to see how pretty it really is on the skin:

The colors can probably be replicated with other singles and shadows however there is a beautiful softness to each shade that I’ve fallen in love with. It’s quite different from other Dolce & Gabbana quads, I pulled Femme Fatale (formerly called Champagne) to compare.

Bottom line gorgeous. The Dolce & Gabbana Smoky Quad ($59) from the True Monica collection is available at select Saks locations and online at Saks Fifth Avenue and Sephora.
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Dark Vampy Lips – Fall/Winter 2012

October 9, 2012

I’ve always been one to wear neutrals, pinks or peaches on the lips. The darkest I tend to go is Clinique Black Honey, MAC “O, or MAC Desire Lipglass. I’m slowly but surely venturing into darker more dramatic colors for makeup. There have been a number of others who have inspired me to try new things 🙂 With a bit of nudging/encouragement from friends and after seeing some lovely swatches on other blogs – these are my new discoveries: perfect vampy lipsticks that are great for fall. I tried to get good lip swatches – unfortunately I failed miserably to get good lip photos. Most of these turned too red with a flash or purple without a flash. I will do my best to supplement with descriptions.
Burberry Lip Mist in Blueberry ($30, found at select Nordstrom and Saks counters) is a sheer glossy red-plum-brown. Out of all the darker colors in the feature this one is the easiest to wear for those scared of dark lips. As others have noted – it’s not really a true blueberry color on the lips. This one is the most forgiving when it comes to fading though. The glossy texture makes it look more natural on the lips and the fading is more subtle than with something that is sharply contrasted to the natural lip tone. I loved it at Cafe Makeup and The Non-Blonde.

Tom Ford Black Orchid ($48, found at select Neiman Marcus, Bergdorf Goodman, Saks and Nordstrom counters) is pure luxury in a tube. This one is quite dramatic, but it has enough warmth and red/plum in it to not be too dark. I really love Tom Ford’s lipsticks (just not the price). This is a gorgeous dark burgandy wine plum. There is shimmer in the tube but it doesn’t really show up on the lips. I recommend a darker lipliner like Trish McEvoy Iced Nude or Chanel nude to help with the application. Since this one is so dramatic, it does require precise application – blending with a brush over a lipliner will help even out any areas that aren’t 100% accurate. I loved this on Lisa Eldridge (she has a brilliant video) and Buy Now, Blog Later. Also see it on KarlaSugar.

Chanel La Provocante ($32.50, I found mine at Nordstrom Seattle) was part of the twin sets for 2012’s Fashion’s Night Out and sold out almost immediately online. It’s a deep dark purple-red color. On my lips the texture was a bit blotchy and uneven, it took a few swipes back and forth to get even coverage. To me this was the least forgiving in terms of application/fading. It required precise application and it looked  Check with your local Chanel boutiques or studios to see if they still have this one. This one I still haven’t quite mastered yet. It’s the perfect dark vamp – a bit too dark for my taste, I would probably have to lighten it with a touch of gloss to warm it up. See it on Front Row Beauty, Christy-Tb and Indigo Kir Royale.

Dolce & Gabbana Dahlia ($30, at select Saks counters) is a classic cream formula and more pinkish/mauve out of all these. It’s borderline non-vamp because it’s not quite dark enough to be a true vamp, but still dark for me. I couldn’t find many reviews/photos of this one. I did like the feature on The Non-Blonde and comparisons on 3 19 29.

Le Métier de Beauté in Castelo ($32, available at Neiman Marcus) is a beautiful wine shimmer with brownish tones. It’s my perfect vamp without being too dark/goth. I fell in love with this after seeing it on Messy Wands (her post says it all). It’s also swatched on KarlaSugar.

I do apologize again for not having more useful lip swatches. Here are the ones I’ve done on the arm which I hope will compare the intensity of each shade.

To date I’ve worn Burberry Blueberry and Le Metier Castelo to work – the others not yet. I’ve matched these with a neutral eye and soft contoured cheek (Burberry Earthy, Dolce & Gabbana Tan or a soft bronzer like Edward Bess Daydream).

What’s your favorite vampy lipstick? Do you prefer the softer ones like I do or do you like to wear the dark/dramatic shades?

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Neutral Comparisons of a few Dolce & Gabbana Passion Duo Gloss Fusion Lipsticks

August 29, 2012
I have yet to see or test the entire line of Passion Duo Gloss Fusion Lipsticks in person, but I’ve found quite a few favorites. Here are the neutrals I have lined up side by side. There’s no substitute for testing in person but I hope this helps. For those looking for a good Dolce and Gabbana artist to work with, I highly recommend Nikki from Saks Houston. She’s been such a valuable resource to me. She matched me over the phone (perfectly) to their powder foundation and cream foundation. She e-mails swatches when she can of new products. She’s amazing at describing colors and textures and gives great ideas on how to coordinate different products. Not to mention her store has great gift with purchases. The minimum purchase amounts tend to be on the high side, but the gifts are very good (often includes at least one full-sized item).
Back to the lipstick comparisons, here are my neutrals swatched left to right: Natural, Sensation, Darling, Feminine, Desireable and Rose.

Dolce & Gabbana Passion Duo Gloss Fusion Lipsticks are $34 each and can be found at select Saks stores and online at Saks.com.

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Dolce & Gabbana Passion Duo Gloss Fusion Lipstick for Summer

August 29, 2012

This summer, Dolce & Gabbana has released eight new shades of their best selling item: Passion Duo Gloss Fusion Lipsticks ($34 each, available at select Saks counters and Saks.com). These are a gloss-lipstick hybrid and come in a wide range of shades and finishes including reds, plums, pinks, beiges, nudes, bronzes, shimmers, creams, golds etc. (See prior reviews and swatches here and here.) I’ve been a huge fan of the formula and couldn’t wait to see the new releases. I purchased Natural and Feminine from Saks Houston and PR provided Exotic and Tropical for review. Here are four of the new shades, left to right: Natural, Feminine, Exotic and Tropical:

Close ups of the shades with some matching nail polish suggestions:
Dolce & Gabbana Natural goes well with Chanel Rose Paradise
Dolce & Gabbana Feminine matches YSL #140 Pink Gold

Dolce & Gabbana Exotic matches Passionne
Dolce & Gabbana Tropical matches Fire
Swatches:

Natural is a soft shimmery light peachy-pink. It’s similar to Darling, but Natural is darker and a tad more peach. It has a glossy finish with a subtle shimmer (not frost).

Feminine is a frosted neutral pink-tan. It’s very similar to Desireable. Feminine is just a tad more brown.

Exotic is a bright purple-orchid-pink. The color is extremely intense. I tried to blot it to tone it down a little, but it still looks very bright.

Tropical is a hot neon orange-red. This is also intensely pigmented and not an easy shade to pull off for me.

Overall, I’ve been extremely impressed with the colors I’ve tried in the Passion Duo Gloss Fusion Lipstick formula. All the shades I purchased sight unseen are neutrals. The two I received for review were on the opposite end of the color spectrum for intensity/brightness. While the texture, quality and finish of Exotic and Tropical are superb, the colors just aren’t me.
Bottom line, I see a trip to the Saks counter in the near future to check out the entire line. Have you tried Dolce & Gabbana’s Passion Duo Gloss Fusion Lipsticks? 
Passion Duo Gloss Fusion Lipsticks are available at select Saks counters in the US for $34 each. I’ve seen/ordered from Houston (my favorite), NYC, Beverly Hills and San Francisco. See the new shades swatched on The Non-Blonde, Makeup and Beauty Blog and NY Mag – The Cut.
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Color Focus: Pink Nudes for Nails

August 20, 2012

I have an obsession with neutral pink nudes for nails. I love the clean polished natural look of colors that have a mix of pink with nude/beige/mauve/rose. My current favorites range from semi-sheer to full coverage shades, most are creams but there are a few that have subtle shimmer. The shades I’m loving this season are listed below. All photos are my own.

Row 1: YSL Beige Leger 22, Chanel Jade Rose 493, Deborah Lippmann Naked, Dolce & Gabbana Rose Petal 102

Row 2: Dior Incognito 257, Deborah Lippmann Fashion, Dior Beige Lotus, Rescue Beauty Lounge Grunge

Row 3: Dolce and Gabbana Petal, Chanel Rose Cache 521, Deborah Lippmann Modern Love and Dior Sienna

On the nail wheel, with a few true beiges and pinks added to compare, two views:

I believe all these shades are still available for sale with the exception of Chanel Mistral which is no longer for sale (I think). Currently, Chanel Jade Rose is listed as limited-edition on Chanel.com. What neutral pinks are you loving?

Kindly note that all photos and content are my own and copyrighted. Please do not copy, reprint, edit, republish or hotlink images.
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