Browsing Tag

Fall 2015

Charlotte Tilbury Lips

Charlotte Tilbury Matte Revolution Luminous Modern-Matte Lipsticks

September 18, 2015

 

Charlotte Tilbury finally launched her Matte Revolution Luminous Modern-Matte Lipsticks ($32 each) in the US. If you’re a Charlotte Tilbury fan like me, you’ve probably been waiting for these for what seems like forever. There are 10 shades of matte lipstick – these are truly phenomenal in terms of the formula and pigment. If you’re a regular reader of The Beauty Look Book, you know I’m not a fan of matte lipsticks in general. I find them drying and thick in texture. They often darken on my skin/lips and also emphasize lip lines in the worst way. There are a few exceptions and Charlotte Tilbury Matte Revolution is one of them.

 

There are 10 luminous modern-matte hues inspired by various famous women. I have swatches of all 10 shades and a review of 5 in more detail. The colors and inspiration according to Charlotte Tilbury:
  • Amazing Grace is inspired by Grace Kelly, a vintage tea rose for pretty, polished perfection a la Nicole Kidman and Miranda Kerr
  • Love Liberty is inspired by Liberty Ross, a wild rose-flush for wildly glamorous nights a la Jerry Hall and Uma Thurman
  • Bond Girl is a chic natural berry for sultry and alluring beauties from Halle Berry and Barbara Bach to Olga Kurylenko
  • Lost Cherry is a pop of pastel fuchsia for a fresh and effortlessly gorgeous look, perfect for Kate Bosworth, Felicity Jones or Cara Delevingne
  • Glastonberry is a sheer blackcurrant hue is for sex kittens and rock n’ rollers like Rihanna, Grace Jones and Rita Ora
  • Walk of Shame is a beautiful, berry tinted rose for antique chic, perfect for Christina Hendricks and Margot Robbie
  • Very Victoria is inspired by Victoria Beckham, a suede, taupe nude for those who buck the trend like Brigitte Bardot
  • Birkin Brown is inspired by the icon, a timelessly elegant soft chocolate cream for Naomi Campbell and Jane Birkin
  • Red Carpet Red is a true ruby red to bestow Hollywood style wow-factor – think Scarlett Johansson, Marilyn Monroe and Michelle Williams
  • Sexy Sienna is inspired by Sienna Miller, a golden coral to partner with sun-kissed skin, think Gisele and Veruschka

 

For quick reference, there are also two additional colors in the Matte Revolution formula that were part of the Charlotte Tilbury x Norman Parkinson collection: Miss Kensington and 1975 Red are reviewed and swatched here. The five colors I have to share from the Matte Revolution collection launch include Very Victoria, Walk of Shame, Bond Girl, Sexy Sienna and Love Liberty.

 

 

 

 

Thoughts and lip swatches below. For all the colors I find they transform into different colors on the lips compared to what you see in the tube. This usually happens with all matte lipsticks on me in general – there’s something about the rich pigment in the lipstick and my pigmented lips that causes a color shift.
Very Victoria is a brown tan nude in the tube, on my lips and skin it pulls more pinkish/nude. There is a very slight hint of shimmer in the color but it’s more cream-looking on the lips.

 

Walk of Shame is a brick red berry color, it pulls warm on me, almost reddish. It looks brighter on my lips compared to what I see in the tube.

 

 

Bond Girl is my favorite. It’s a muted mauve pink brown color. It has a lot of color and is darker than what I’m used to (there is a lot of brown undertone) but it will be perfect for fall as a color that’s deeper than neutrals, but not as dark as vamps.

 

Sexy Sienna is the color I was most excited about. It’s a stunning coral that’s bright but natural. On my lips it was a bit of a let-down. It clashes with my skin and looks a bit harsh. I think I can make it work better for me by toning it down with a lighter gloss.

 

Love Liberty is a stunning berry. It’s a plum color in the tube but on my lips it’s more reddish in color.

 

All the lipsticks have a nourishing formula. The combination of matte and luminous seems impossible to have in one lipstick, but Charlotte Tilbury has managed to make a luminous matte. These have a smooth texture that’s easy to layer for pigment. With one swipe these are fairly pigmented and easy to blend. They don’t emphasize lip lines and don’t dry out my lips. When I do lip swatches I usually have to spread out the swatching over a couple of days because the rubbing and makeup removing is pretty harsh on my lips. These are so nourishing I was able to swatch them all in one day and when I was finished, my lips were still in very good shape.

 

 

Lasting power is really really good. I found by hour 5 of wear the color was still in tact without any fading. There is color transfer to cups if you drink coffee, tea, water, juice etc. but the color still stays on the lips really well. The lipsticks do have a vanilla scent but it’s not too sweet and disappears after a few minutes.

 

Overall I give these a huge thumbs up. The colors options in general are on the dark side – much darker than I’m used to wearing for everyday. If you’re a fan of neutral lips you will probably find all of these too dark or pigmented. I’d recommend you check out the new Buxom Big and Sexy Bold Gel Lip Colors, there are lots of neutrals in the matte formula (I’ll have a post next week on these). If you’re one who likes color and are looking for a long-wearing matte that’s nourishing, these are among the best mattes I’ve tried. Other favorites for formula include the Tom Ford Lip Mattes although the colors are limited (my favorite color is First Time) and the Rouge Louboutin in Velvet Matte.
If you like lighter colors, you will also find more options in the regular K.I.S.S.I.N.G lip color formula. The two formulas are very different in terms of texture, finish and color selection. (Swatches of Penelope Pink, Bitch Perfect, Confession, Stoned Rose, Nude Kate and Hepburn Honey here.) The K.I.S.S.I.N.G Lipsticks are creamier in texture with a thicker feel. The Matte Revolution by comparison glides on the lips easier and feels weightless. Lasting power of both formulas is very good. I have a slight preference for the feel of the matte, but like the finished look of the regular formula.
You can find the Charlotte Tilbury Matte Revolution Lipsticks at counters now priced at $32 each. Online at Beautylish (they have lip swatches on fair and deep skins), Nordstrom, Net-A-Porter, Bergdorf Goodman and Charlotte Tilbury. If you want to go all out, you can splurge on 10 of the shades in the Luxury Lipstick Wardrobe for $305.
Have you tried these lipsticks yet? If so, what colors?
The 5 Charlotte Tilbury Matte Revolution lipsticks featured in this post were provided as samples for review consideration.
Uncategorized

Lancôme Auda[city] in Paris Eyeshadow Palette

September 14, 2015

Lancôme recently launched a 16-pan eyeshadow palette called Auda[city] in Paris ($68 for 16 shadows each x 1.3g/0.45 oz). This palette was designed by Lisa Eldridge and inspired by the streets of Paris. It’s Lancôme’s first multi-palette with light neutrals, taupes, purples, smokey greys and darker browns. It comes cased in a large mirrored compact and double-ended eyeshadow brush. The eyeshadows have different textures including matte, satin and metallic.

There are mixed reviews on this palette – I’ve been playing with this one for a few days now to put it to the test. Overall I would say it’s a good neutral palette that has a wide range of colors to create a multitude of looks. I like that each color is distinct from each other so there aren’t any repeats within the same palette. The look and feel of the shadows is very natural with a sheer to medium finish. Most of the colors are buildable in pigment – by using a denser brush or dampening it you will get more pigment. Texture is soft and sheer – the shimmers have a lot of powdery kickup and when applying on the eyes I experienced a lot of fall out onto the cheeks. It was easy to clean up though and I usually have some sort of fall out with powder shadows whenever I blend and swipe (creams excluded). Once on the lids – lasting power was pretty good. I tried with and without a base – a base definitely helps, my favorite is Edward Bess Illuminating Eye Base or a cream shadow stick like NARS Velvet Shadow Sticks or Laura Mercier Caviar Eye Sticks.

The finish of each color in this palette is either hit or miss. Some are sheerer than others. A couple of the darker shades are best applied with a detailed brush damp and then smoked out – if you use a fluffy brush for some of the deeper colors you will see uneven application. The nice thing about the darker shades being sheer though is that they are easy to build slowly. If you’re a smokey eye novice and worried about overdoing it – this is a good starter palette.

  • Filigree is a light ivory gold shimmer, pigment is medium
  • Choquette is a matte cream peach, pigment is medium
  • Parfait is a light matte cool pink, pigment is sheer to meidum
  • Joie is a frosted champagne shimmer, pigment is medium-full
  • Voyage a warm matte terracotta tan, pigment is sheer to medium but easy to blend
  • Santé is a soft matte brown, sheer to medium pigment, this is a good blending shade to soften harsh edges and finish the eye look by adding warmth
  • Kitten Heel a metallic duo chrome pink gold copper, pigment is medium with a lot of fallout, but on the lids it stays put
  • Tenacity is a glorious metallic taupe, it’s frosty but so so pretty on the lids
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  • Exhibition is an orchid shimmer, finish is very sheer, this is my least favorite in the palette
  • Zip Me Up is a deeper orchid purple shimmer, also sheer in finish, my second least favorite
  • Volcano is a shimmery grey, finish is sheer to medium
  • Audacious is a satiny smokey brown shimmer, pigment is medium
  • Couture is a soft semi-sheer dark matte brow, color is really soft unless you apply with a damp detail brush or small smudge brush
  • It List is a satiny black with tiny bits of silver shimmer flecks, pigment is medium
  • Clock Strikes 12 is a metallic grey that is very sheer, but buildable if you pack it on
  • Nuit is a cool-toned metallic black gunmetal, pigment is medium
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Quick eye swatch with a super natural look:

One last shot:

My overall take on the Lancôme Auda[city] in Paris Eyeshadow Palette is that it’s a decent palette. If I were to rate this on a scale, I’d give this a B rating. I think it’s a good wearable palette that will take you from day to night looks without any other shadows required. The variety makes it versatile and will allow for a number of different looks. If you’re new to eyeshadow and want the convenience of a palette, this is a good starter palette. There are a number of women I know who don’t wear much eyeshadow – if you want color but want a natural palette that’s fun to experiment with this is a good option.

Compared to other palettes, I do think there are better options out there for richer more vibrant color/pigment. That being said the Lancome Palette does appear to be designed for a natural look versus bold rich color. I’m not a huge fan of the brush it comes with – one is a synthetic small brush that seems better suited for creams. The other side is a larger fluffy side which is good for pigmented shadows, since this palette is sheer to medium it doesn’t pick up color well. It is a really good blending brush though.

In terms of larger palettes, the Urban Decay Naked series still rules them all as the best ones for the price of $54 each (at least in my opinion). Based on feedback I’ve received from previous reviews I’ve posted I know they aren’t everyone’s cup of tea. I like Urban Decay because of the soft textures, rich pigment, gorgeous shimmers, wearable metallics – for many the palettes are just too much in terms of frost/shimmer. For others, some can’t get over the look of the packaging. The MAC x15 Naturals Palettes are also good if you’re looking for variety but come at a much higher price tag of $85.

If you want a softer palette with shimmers but ones that have more subtle shimmers I’d recommend this Lancôme Auda[city] in Paris Eyeshadow Palette or the Dior Eye Reviver (reviewed here and here). Given how many eyeshadows I’ve tested and own, I can’t call this one a must-have, although for the price it’s nice to have – the quality is good and shadows blend/build nicely on the lids.
Overall a good wearable and versatile palette that’s nice to have, or nice to start out with if you’re building a makeup collection. The overall look and feel is extremely beautiful – it’s a palette you can wear for a number of occasions. You can find the Lancôme Auda[city] in Paris Eyeshadow Palette available now at Lancôme counters. Online at Sephora, Nordstrom, Neiman Marcus, Saks Fifth Avenue and all other Lancôme retailers.
Have you tried this palette yet? What’s your favorite large eyeshadow palette?
This palette was provided courtesy of Lancôme for review consideration.
Lips Tom Ford Beauty

New Tom Ford Lip Colors for Fall 2015

September 11, 2015

 

Tom Ford added 16 new Lip Colors to his permanent beauty lineup. He launched three shades that were previously Asia Exclusives and also launched eight lipsticks in full-size form that were formerly in the small Lips & Boys size. I ordered several a few weeks ago – I’m a huge fan of Tom Ford Lipsticks (all his formulas) even though these come with a high price tag of $52 each, the formula is rich, creamy, pigmented, non-irritating and non-drying (they made it into my top three picks of favorite lipsticks). I have a review of 6 shades I picked out plus swatches of 15 of the 16 colors that I swatched at the counter (I missed one that I couldn’t locate at the counter). The new colors that just launched include:

 

  • Bare Peach is a medium peach silver shimmer
  • Casino (formerly Blake from Lips & Boys) is a metallic plum-brown with gold frost
  • Dark & Stormy (formerly Pavlos from Lips & Boys) is a dark brown with a hint of red
  • Flash of Pink (formerly John from Lips & Boys) is the color I couldn’t locate at the counter
  • Guilty Pleasure (formerly William from Lips & Boys) is a warm metallic peach gold
  • Lilac Nymph is a cool-toned lilac cream
  • Misbehaved is a medium peach cream
  • Naked Coral is a shimmering soft coral
  • Seventh Sin is a metallic copper gold
  • Showgirl (formerly Francesco from Lips & Boys) is a vibrant hot pink cream
  • So Vain is a mauve plum with a slight hint of gold shimmer
  • Something Wild is a medium warm hot pink
  • Sunset Boulevard (formerly Tomas from Lips & Boys) is a hot orange cream
  • Sweet Mystery (formerly Peter from Lips & Boys) is a shimmering champagne nude
  • Virgin Rose is a cool-toned baby pink
The colors I picked out are all neutrals of course. When I bought mine I ordered sight unseen and I did not know that some were repromotes of Lips & Boys. After seeing the other colors at the counter I was tempted by Virgin Rose but suspect it will be too cool-toned for my skin. Casino is gorgeous but looks identical Blake which I already own so I passed.

 

My picks include Naked Coral, Forbidden Pink, Sweet Mystery, Bare Peach, Guilty Pleasure and So Vain. All performed true to what I’m used to with other Tom Ford Lip Colors. They glide on the lips nicely. The shimmering colors are on the frosty side which emphasized lip lines – although I will say that my lips have been a bit dry lately. These days I prep my lips with Charlotte Tilbury Lip Magic or MAC Prep + Prime Lips and let it set for a minute before applying lip color. Both give the lips a nice smooth base with some hydration. They are good bases for lipstick because they have just the right amount of moisture and aren’t too emollient which is a must – otherwise the lip color can tend to slide off.

 

Colors in different lighting, indoors without flash:

 

 

Swatches side by side, note most of the colors I picked had some kind of shimmer in them. Naked Coral, Forbidden Pink and So Vain are the ones with the least shimmer but the formula still has a very slight glossy sheen which makes them glow:

 

 

Close up and lip swatches. On my skin Naked Coral and Forbidden Pink are very close. My lips tend to make anything with a slightly bright base turn a bit so you will probably see more of a distinction on your lips versus mine. I have a very slight preference for Forbidden Pink because it has a warm pink base.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I pulled a few other Tom Ford lipsticks to compare and see if a couple were truly dupes of the Lips & Boys. The ones I looked at are 90%+ identical, there are very slight differences. There are still a few of the Lips & Boys available online at Neiman Marcus. Reviews of previous reviews linked below:

 

One last shot of the new colors lined up side by side:

 

I definitely have dupes with Sweet Mystery and Guilty Pleasure. If you have either Peter or William you don’t need the repromotes unless you love it, are running low and want to replenish. Naked Coral and Forbidden Pink are very close on me. I have a slight preference for Forbidden Pink although if you like lighter colors I’d recommend you opt for Naked Coral instead – it has a brighter look. Bare Peach is pure love although the shimmer in it requires lip prep so it doesn’t emphasize lip lines. So Vain is a good cool-toned mauve plum that will be perfect for a fall transition color.
All the new lip colors are supposed to be permanent additions to the Tom Ford Lip Color line. I’m still tempted by Virgin Rose but I know it will almost certainly be too cool in color for my skin. Also with the other lipstick launches from other lines this fall, there are plenty of other colors and formulas to choose from.
The Tom Ford Lip Colors retail for $52 each. Available now at Tom Ford Beauty counters. Online at Nordstrom, Neiman Marcus, Bergdorf Goodman, Saks Fifth Avenue and Selfridges.

 

GWP

Space NK USA Autumn Beauty Edit Gift With Purchase Event – September 12, 2015

September 10, 2015
http://click.linksynergy.com/fs-bin/click?id=MeQoh28EORo&subid=&offerid=211083.1&type=10&tmpid=11586&RD_PARM1=http%253A%252F%252Fus.spacenk.com%252Fwomen%252F

September is a popular month for beauty events and gift with purchase offers. Space NK offers one of the best gift bags – if you’ve shopped their events in past years you know they are extremely generous with the samples. This Saturday, September 12th, Space NK USA will host their Autumn Beauty Edit event across all 23 US locations. During this one-day-only shopping event, you can shop the latest in fall trends and looks from their Timeless Beauty FW15 Campaign. Each store will have different specialists, makeover appointments and experts on site. Full list of their US locations here.

Exclusively for the event, and while supplies last, with any purchase of $250 or more you will receive a huge gift bag with a sampling of must-haves from 33 of our featured brands (deluxe, travel and full-size items). Each year this event is extremely popular and gifts always sell out. It’s recommended you call your local store to reserve a gift in advance or order early online on the 12th – if you’re interested and have a store near you I recommend calling today. A sneak peek at what’s inside the gift bag:

Contents of the gift bag courtesy of Space NK:

  • Space NK Limited Edition Cosmetics Bag 
  • Bumble & Bumble Repair Blow Dry (15ml) 
  • By Terry Mascara Terrybly in Black Parti-Pris (4g) 
  • Cane + Austin Miracle Pad (x 5) 
  • Chantecaille Faux Cils Mascara in Black (4g) 
  • Darphin Stimulskin Plus Reshaping Divine Serum (3ml) 
  • Diptyque Eau de Parfum (assorted, 12ml) 
  • Eve Lom Cleanser (20ml plus muslin cloth) 
  • Goldfaden MD Fresh A Peel (5ml) 
  • Hampton Sun Continuous Mist Hydrating Aloe (30ml) 
  • Hourglass Femme Rouge Lipstick in Icon (0.85g) 
  • James Read Tan Accelerator (25ml) 
  • Juara Candlenut Body Crème (44 ml) 
  • Kate Burki Rose Hip Intense Recovery Eye Serum (7ml) 
  • Kevyn Aucoin The Flesh Tone Lip Pencil in Bloodroses (0.68g) 
  • Lancer Intensive Night Treatment (7.5ml) 
  • Leif Kakadu Plum and Macadamia Nut Hand Balm (75ml) 
  • Lipstick Queen Chinatown Glossy Pencil (assorted, 3.1g) 
  • Malin + Goetz Vitamin E Facial Moisturizer (30ml) 
  • Mila Moursi Cryo Serum Ice Cube Infusion (5ml) 
  • Mio The Activist Firming Active Body Oil (30 ml) 
  • Miriam Quevedo Extreme Caviar Restructuring Luxe Serum (50ml) 
  • Natura Bissé Tensolift Neck Cream (5ml) 
  • Oribe Supershine Moisturizing Cream (15ml) 
  • Original & Mineral Atonic Thickening Spritz (50ml) 
  • Philip B. Nordic Wood Hair & Body Shampoo (15ml) 
  • R+Co Death Valley Dry Shampoo (2.25oz) 
  • Radical Skincare Eye Revive Crème (5ml) 
  • Ren Wake Wonderful Night-Time Facial (10ml) 
  • Rodial Pink Diamond Instant Lifting Serum (5ml) 
  • Roloxin Lift Revitalizing Facial Treatment (0.07oz x 2) 
  • Sunday Riley Good Genes (10ml) 
  • Tata Harper Regenerating Cleanser (15ml)
Will you be shopping for this Space NK event this fall? Or have you budgeted for other fall beauty events? Would love to hear about what you have on your wishlist or any new beauty finds you’ve discovered.

To recap, the Space NK USA Autumn Beauty Edit Event is one day on September 12th, in stores and online while supplies last. Full store listing of all 23 US locations here. Do note the gifts usually sell out fairly quickly – if you’re interested I’d recommend calling your store soon to reserve one in advance.

Many thanks to Space NK for sending the gift as a preview teaser for their event!

Christian Louboutin

Christian Louboutin Lip Colours: Rouge Louboutin

September 1, 2015

 

Today Christian Louboutin launches 38 shades of Louboutin Lip Colour in three distinct formulas ($90 each). The Lip Colours come cased in the most ornate packaging I’ve ever seen for the lipstick. The design is inspired by Babylonian architecture – it resembles an elixir vial and is capped with a stunning crown. The three different textures include a multitude of colors. Each formula has the red classic Louboutin Rouge color. I have swatches of the three reds to share today. They come with a hefty price tag and I am pleased to report Louboutin has taken lipstick to another level, not just with the packaging, but also with an incredible formula. According to Louboutin these are made in the USA, paraben-ree, mineral oil-free, DEA-free and Phthalate-free. First a look at each of the three formulas and color selection.

 

 

Louboutin Rouge Nail Color featured on the nails in all photos, reviewed + swatched here:
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Silky Satin Lip Colour – 20 shades including Rouge Louboutin 3.8 gr /0.134 Oz
  • Glides on lips with an opulent and sensual feel.
  • A unique blend of ultra-fine colour pigments expresses deep and generous colour with a silky satin finish and soft shine.
  • Medium to full coverage delivered in one stroke with a supple and soft feel on lips.
  • A complex of natural oils and seed butters enhances moisturization for up to 4 hours and creates a protective effect against dryness.
  • Maintains an excellent appearance on lips up to 4 hours without bleeding and with durable comfort.
  • Available in a universal shade palette, ranging from light to deep tones, across mid-tonal and bright hues of pinks to berries, reds and corals, nudes and browns.

 

Velvet Matte Lip Colour – 9 shades including Rouge Louboutin 3.8 gr /0.134 Oz
  • Glides on lips with smooth precision.
  • Intensely rich color goes on with full coverage and sets with a soft touch matte finish.
  • Medium to full coverage delivered in one stroke with a supple and soft feel on lips.
  • A complex of natural oils and seed butters enhances moisturization for up to 4 hours and creates a protective effect against dryness.
  • Maintains an excellent appearance on lips up to 4 hours without bleeding and with durable comfort.

 

 

Sheer Voile Lip Color – 9 shades including Rouge Louboutin 3.5 gr / 0.123 Oz
  • Glides on lips with a creamy smooth nourishing sensation.
  • Impactful colour accents lips natural radiance with a wet luminous shine.
  • A complex of natural oils and seed butters enhances moisturization and creates a protective effect against dryness.

 

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The Louboutin Beaute team was kind enough to send the three Rouge Louboutin colors. I’ve been playing with these for the last month – it was so hard to touch the actual product. They are almost too pretty to use. Each lipstick comes in a hefty case with a cap that has a small loop opening so it can double as a charm. Each color comes individually packaged (search #LouboutinCharme for more photos and uploads from others). Mine came in a stunning black and red box as part of the press sample. The three formulas each have a distinct design for the packaging. The Velvet Mattes have a brushed matte finish on the case, Silky Satins have a glossy finish to the tubes, Sheer Voiles have a patterned weave to the outside.

 

 

 

Swatches below, you can see the difference in texture. For the color in Rouge Louboutin, all three reds are very similar, if not almost identical in color.

 

Closeup to see the texture differences:

 

 

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Thoughts and swatches on my lips from sheer to full coverage. First up in Sheer Voile. I haven’t tried or seen the other colors but the pigment of Rouge Louboutin is very very good. It has a super lush glossy finish that has a slightly transparent look. It is very pigmented on my lips and glides on like a dream. It has a very soft scent that’s hard to describe – it’s like fresh and clean with a very slight powdery touch. The scent is very subtle. I found it extremely hydrating. The product is supposed to last four hours without fading. I was able to test it for 3 hours without having it budge before I had to eat something, it stayed put relatively well through snacks and it did not bleed around the edges. For a red, this is the best sheer red I’ve tried. It’s not too cool, it’s not too warm, and it doesn’t turn fuchsia. My wallet is going to be so broke when this one is used up because I will have to repurchase it.

 

 

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Silky Satin is the classic formula, it comes in 20 different shades. At $90 a tube the lipstick costs an arm and a leg. I already cry everytime Tom Ford launches new lipsticks because they break the bank. I’m of the mindset that no matter how good a lipstick is, a lipstick is still just a lipstick. Still I will splurge on Tom Ford and after testing Louboutin I am beyond amazed that they have truly taken lipstick to another level. The Silky Satin is out of this world. It lasted a full five hours on me without bleeding, fading or budging. It did transfer to a soda can, but the color lasted through 2 Diet Dr. Pepper cans and a 4 Oreos without fading at all. The color is super hydrating and lush. It has full opaque coverage with a very slightly glossy sheen. It makes the lips look lush because the pigment is so rich.

 

 

 

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Last but not least is Velvet Matte. I try to stay away from matte finish lipsticks because they often leave my lips looking dry and emphasize lip lines. There are few exceptions (Tom Ford Lip Color Matte is one formula I really like). The Louboutin Rouge Velvet Matte is amazingly exceptional. It offers full opaque coverage. It does have a slightly drier texture compared to the other two formulas. It sticks to the lips and stays put without budging. As with most rich reds this requires precise application. I usually like sheers or glossy formulas because they are more forgiving – for mattes like this one if you don’t cover the entire lip evenly it shows. This one takes more care to apply, but it’s the same as with any dark or bright lip color. Even though it’s matte it’s non drying. It has a distinct matte finish but still manages to have a glow to it.

 

 

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After playing these for a few weeks now I am surprised to report that I am truly impressed. I still think lipstick is simply lipstick and I thought there was no way lipstick could get better than it already is. The $90 price tag is really hard to swallow, but somehow Christian Louboutin has managed to take lip colors to another level with the formula. If you can budget for one it’s totally worth splurging on. It is a luxurious item that is very nice to have. I’ve already started budgeting to splurge on a few colors I have my eye on and my wallet is crying a flood of tears right now because these will break the bank.
All 38 colors officially launched at stores and online today. I can’t wait to see the entire range in person soon. You can find them online at Neiman Marcus, Bergdorf Goodman, Nordstrom, Sephora and Christian Louboutin. (There are also new Lip Liners that have launched with the collection.)
Have you checked out the Louboutin Lip Colours yet? If yes what did you think? If not yet have you ordered any yet! Let me know so I can live vicariously through you!

 

Many thanks to Louboutin for sending the Rouge Louboutin Lip Colours for review.

 

Uncategorized

Chanel Fall 2015 Rouge Allure and Rouge Coco Shines

August 31, 2015

For fall Chanel has four new lipsticks in their Collection Les Automnales release. I picked up two of the Rouge Coco Shines ($36 each) in Mélancolie and Téméraire along with one Rouge Allure ($36) in Pensive. I’m usually super excited about the new lip releases from Chanel. Their lipstick formulas usually perform really well for me and I love the colors. This fall, the items fall a bit short of my expectations.

The three colors I picked out at the counter:

  • Rouge Coco Shine in Mélancolie is a sheer glossy warm brownish nude with shimmer, this goes on beautifully if swatched on the hands, on my pigmented lips it looks very nude and natural, it almost disappears because of the way it matches my lip tone, it’s so so pretty in the tube, on me it’s almost invisible, I suspect if you have less pigment in your lips it will show up better
  • Rouge Coco Shine in Téméraire is a pigmented deeper red with shimmer, this one has phenomenal coverage and pigment, if you’re like me, most reddish lip colors can turn orange or fuchsia on the lips no matter what the base color is, this one surprisingly does not turn fuchsia and stays true to what you see in the tube
  • Rouge Allure in Pensive is a sheer nude that is applies unevenly and blotchy, it’s almost identical in color to the Reveuse Rouge Coco Shine, but the Rouge Coco Shine has a much better formula and coverage, it photographs well, but in real life it looks really uneven, I’ve tried desperately to make it work because it swatches so pretty on the arm and looks like nude perfection in the tubes, but it’s really not worth the price given the sheerness

Swatches below:

Some swatched comparisons:

One last shot:

Overall beautiful in the tubes, but they aren’t must-haves for me. I do like the way Téméraire looks and how pigmented it is although it has a lot more color in it than I’m used to. It’s definitely not an everyday kind of lip color unless you are used to wearing reds. Mélancolie is such a stunning shade in the tube and on my hand, on my me it seems to have decent coverage but it disappears on my pigmented lips. Pensive is something I would say skip – there are much better nudes out there from other lines that have better pigment, coverage and texture. If you’re in the market for new lipsticks to splurge on I would say save for Louboutin, Tom Ford or the Burberry Kisses. Or wait for Chanel Holiday.
Did you check out the fall selection for lips? What did you think?
All the new lip colors in the fall collection are listed as permanent. They are available at counters now. Online at Nordstrom, Neiman Marcus, Chanel.com and all other Chanel retailers.
Chanel Eye Makeup

Les 5 Ombres de Chanel Eyeshadow Palette in Entrelacs for Fall 2015

August 27, 2015

There’s a stunning new eyeshadow palette from Chanel this fall called Les 5 Ombres de Chanel in Entrelacs ($80, limited-edition). It’s quite expensive but the colors are phenomenal neutrals that have a super soft texture with good buildable pigment. I think Chanel should make all their shadows in this formula – it melds into the skin flawlessly. The light colors are pigmented with a glorious shimmer giving them unique look. (In the pan they look almost matte.) The three darker shades are satiny in texture and layer nicely over each other. If you have a creamy liner or base on the lids you will see the dark shades pop. Chanel’s Les 5 Ombres de Chanel for fall is the perfect in-between of pure mattes and high frost shimmers. The finish is more of a satiny glow and I can’t rave enough about this palette. Even though I own enough neutrals to last 100 lifetimes I think this one is a must. 

The colors left to right:

Shimmering soft ivory with a champagne shimmery glow
Matte neutral beige tan
Soft satiny chocolate shimmer
Dark blackened brown satin
Soft light pink with gold shimmer

Swatches with the sponge applicators:

Swatched heavy over Tom Ford Peach Glow Primer with fingers:

I suspect each color can be replicated with individual colors. Some of the ones above resemble older Chanel singles and quads that I own (the first one resembles Ivory, second resembles Sand, third looks like a brown version of the darkest color in Poesie, fourth is unique). I pulled two other palettes to compare, Chanel Charming from Holiday 2013 and Dior Eye Reviver 001:

Overall a winner. I highly recommend it. If you’re new to high end eyeshadows and want a good easy to wear palette of neutrals, the Les 5 Ombres de Chanel is a good introductory palette. It has conservative colors suitable for everyday wear but enough color to show up on the eyes and add dimension. Lasting power is very good – it stays put all day without fading or budging. I’ve used it with my go-to eye base from Edward Bess. I like it so much I have to buy a back it up.

You can find the fall 2015 Les 5 Ombres de Chanel Eyeshadow Palette in Entrelacs at all counters now, while supplies last since it’s limited-edition. Online at Chanel.com, Nordstrom, Neiman Marcus, Saks Fifth Avenue, Bergdorf Goodman and all other Chanel retailers.