Browsing Tag

Fall 2016

Fragrance

Tom Ford Beauty Velvet Orchid Lip Color and Orchid Soleil Eau de Parfum

September 10, 2016

I reviewed the a few items from the Tom Ford Orchid Collection last month and today I have two more to share thoughts on which includes the Velvet Orchid Lip Color ($53) and Orchid Soleil Eau de Parfum ($82 to $168). If you recall from my last post I was waiting for the pink highlighter powder in Velvet Bloom to arrive before posting this particular review. Turns out they had a mix up on the website and shipped the wrong color with my order. I went to the store to exchange and it was actually a good thing that I went in store to try it. I’ve read mixed reviews about pink option and the one I tested in store was very sheer with non-existent pigment. It looked chalky with a hard stiff texture and barely any color showed up as I swiped it with a finger and also a brush that was a tester at the counter. As much as I adore Tom Ford cheek products, I decided to pass.

Up first is one of the limited-edition lip colors that comes packaged in a deep violet embossed packaging. Size is the same as the regular lip colors – only the exterior is different. I opted for the lighter option which is called Velvet Orchid. It’s a plum pink with silvery shimmer. It’s medium to full coverage and falls somewhere in between medium to bold in color. It’s not quite dramatic or deep enough to be bold but it’s still not a neutral. The shimmer is visible on my lips but it’s a pretty kind. 

Below it’s swatched on bare lips. It pulls neutral to cool on me. With the flash the silvery shimmer shows up more than without a flash.

 

Swatch comparisons below:

  • Tom Ford Lip Color in So Vain (review here)
  • Tom Ford Lip Color in Negligee (review here)
  • Tom Ford Lips and Boys in Daniel and Malik (posted here)
  • Charlotte Tilbury Matte Revolution in Bond Girl (on lips here)
  • Chanel Rouge Coco in Suzanne (review here)
  • Dior Addict Hydra-Gel Core Mirror Shine in Sophisticated (on lips here)

It’s a lovely color for fall that pulls mauve, plum and pink all at the same time. If you have the Lips and Boys in Daniel I do think it’s similar enough that you can skip. So Vain is warmer with a bit less shimmer.

Up next is the Orchid Soleil Eau de Parfum. I bought the 30 ml version which is a Sephora exclusive (other sizes can be found at all other Tom Ford retailers). I ordered this one without testing it and I must admit the beautiful rose gold packaging was calling my name as soon as it popped up. It’s a warm cashmere floral but it has notes that makes me think of licorice and root beer. Once I had those two in my head I just couldn’t get them out and all I can think of is food when I wear this. I will say this one is just not really my cup of tea. I asked my husband what he thought. He usually likes Tom Ford fragrances on me. His response, “not my favorite, but I don’t hate it.” I feel the same.
  • Top notes: bitter orange, tuberose, cypress, peppercorns
  • Middle notes: lily, spider lily, black orchid, clove
  • Base notes: cashmeran, patchouli, vetiver, ambroxan, sylkolide, vanilla, chestnut cream

I’m still working my way through testing a few new scents that have launched this fall. I hope to review them soon for those curious. I will say that so far I’m head over heels in love with Louis Vuitton Parfums Apogée and Matiere Noire along with the Replica Filters.

Bottom line, both nice to have, but given the comparisons for the lips, I don’t think Velvet Orchid is a must, especially if you own So Vain or Daniel. There are little differences that make them different enough to justify though so if it’s your kind of color I’d say go for it. After all I have dozens of the same neutral pink for lips but will never stop getting excited about new ones that launch. Perfume is so personal I think Orchid Soleil is hit or miss. If you like warm florals with a bit of spice you may want to give this a spritz at the store. For me I’m glad I bought the smallest version so it wasn’t as expensive of a mistake as buying the larger sizes.

I found the 30 ml Orchid Soleil at Sephora. The rest of the Orchid Collection including the Velvet Orchid Lipstick, Black Orchid Lipstick and Nightbloom Powders are available exclusively in the US at Bergdorf Goodman, Neiman Marcus and Tom Ford. At this time I believe the lipstick and powders are limited-edition.

Have you tried these yet? I will have reviews of the new Lip Contour Duos and the AW16 collection up as soon as I can! First impressions are very good and I can’t wait to share them with you.
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Barneys New York GWP

Barneys Love Yourself Event – September 7 to 11

September 9, 2016

The Barneys Love Yourself Event is back again and runs through September 11th. With any $200 or more purchase online or in stores for beauty you get a choice of a women’s beauty or men’s grooming gift bag filled with minis. If you’re shopping online, no code is needed and once your cart hits the qualifying mark a pop up window should show up on your screen allowing you to pick the women’s or men’s bag. I’ve shopped this event for years and am excited to team up with Barneys to share the gift contents and some recommendations. I love that they’ve kept the bag size and design consistent over the years. I’ve collected quite a few as I’ve found them perfect for travel. Mine have been well loved so unfortunately I’ve had to throw away a few so I look forward to each season’s beauty event.

The gift contents for the women’s bag includes:

  • Kiehl’s Super Multi-Corrective Eye-Opening Serum .1 fl oz/3 ml
  • Malin + Goetz Recovery Treatment Oil .06 fl oz/2 ml
  • Oribe Gold Lust Transformative Masque .5 fl oz/15 ml
  • The Organic Pharmacy Face Cream Double Rose Rejuvinating .24 fl oz/7 ml
  • Davines Oi All in One Milk 1.69 fl oz/50 ml
  • Sisleya Essential Skin Care Lotion .5 fl oz/15 ml
  • Chantecaille Fruit and Flower Acids Mask .17 fl oz/5 ml
  • Replica Lipstick On 1.2 ml
  • By Terry Baume de Rose 3g/.1 oz
  • Byredo Super Cedar 0.06 fl oz/2 ml
  • Diptyque 34 Eau de Toilette 0.06 fl oz/2 ml
  • Rodin Olio Lusso 0.08 fl oz/2.5 ml
  • Furterer 5 Sens .1 fl oz/3 ml
  • La Mer Moisturizing Soft Cream .24 oz/7 ml
  • Mila Moursi Lifting Cream .1 fl oz/4 ml
  • Marvis Whitening Mint .5 oz/10 ml
  • Deborah Lippmann Physical Attraction Nail Polish .27 fl oz/8 ml
  • Kevyn Aucoin The Eye Pencil in Basic Black .69 g
  • 3LAB Super Eye Treatment .1 oz/3 ml
  • Loewe 001 Man and Woman minis 2 ml each
  • Lilah B Palette Perfection Eye Quad sampler on card
  • Givenchy Rouge Interdit Vinyl 1.3 g
  • Hourglass Ambient Light Correcting Primer in Mood Light .10 fl oz/3 ml
  • Shu Uemura Art of Hair Color Lustre Brilliant Glaze Conditioner 40 ml
  • Rituals White Lotus & Yi Yi Ren Foaming Shower Gel 1.6 fl oz/50 ml

A few of my favorite things:

  • Diptyque Eau de Toilette in L’Ombre Dans L’eau is the fragrance version of the Baies candle which is blackcurrant and rose. I have the mini travel size that was limited-edition shown but it’s a go-to for evenings and special occasions. I think it’s a perfect one for fall.
  • Diptyque Candle in Baies is my favorite candle right now, I recycle them to use as containers for brushes, glosses, pens and anything that will fit inside (this Mini Trio was my first Diptyque purchase ever).
  • By Terry Ombre Blackstar in Bronze Moon is the one shadow stick I would say is a must-have, it’s a shimmering bronzey taupe that is versatile for any occasion or look.
  • Hourglass Vanish Seamless Finish Foundation Stick in Nude and Warm Ivory (c/o) are in my top three for foundation sticks (reviewed here).
  • NARS Lip Gloss in Turkish Delight is a classic sheer light pink, since it’s sheer I use it to top lipsticks for a bit of a milky shine (I also adore the shade Chelsea Girls).
  • Aesop Parsley Seed Cleansing Masque is hands down one of the best purifying masks that is good for sensitive skin, it sucks out impurities and excess oil and is gentle enough for me to use 4x per week on bad skin weeks (I normally use it 1 to 2 x per week).
  • Byredo Bal d’Afrique Eau de Parfum is one of my favorite sweet scents, notes include bergamot, lemon, neroli, African marigold, bucchu, violet, jasmin petals, cyclamen, black amber, musk, vetiver and Moroccan cedarwood (I also own it in the Body Cream).
  • Shu Uemura Art of Hair Wonder Worker is something I just reviewed yesterday and several readers have also voiced their love for this, it’s a really good hair smoother and primer for heat treatment, it also smells amazing!
  • Tatcha Balanced Pore Perfecting Water Gel (c/o) has been a go-to all summer long for a lightweight moisturizer that’s good for sensitive skin, it also does indeed smooth out pores like the name implies and works well under all the foundations I have in rotation so I don’t need a primer.
  • Le Labo x Laundress Detergent in Rose 31 is not shown, but if you’re stocked on everything and can’t think of anything new to try, try the Le Labo Detergent. The price is jaw dropping almost to the point of being ridiculous, but I promise it’s worth the splurge.

Some new items I just started playing with:

  • NARS Dual Intensity Eyeshadow in Rigel (new for fall) is one of the prettiest soft rosey pinks that won’t give you the pink-eye look and is good for an all over wash of color.
  • NARS Dual Intensity Blush Palette is a blush lover’s dream come true, if you don’t like creams but want something that’s not a traditional powder, the Dual Intensity formula is good because it’s like a hybrid, pigment is excellent and easy to blend with a slightly creamy texture so it adheres really well to the face and stays put all day long.
  • La Mer The Cleansing Micellar Water is something I’m already 1/3 through, I picked this up a few months ago and really like it. It’s gentle, effective and doesn’t irritate my skin for a makeup remover. I don’t know that I’ll repurchase because it’s pricey but I have no complaints on this one. For a less expensive alternative that’s still really good, the Koh Gen Do Cleansing Spa Water has been a favorite for years. The Cleansing Spa Water Cloths are a must for travel or on-the-go.
I don’t have a full list for the men’s bag but you can see both below, Glowing is the women’s bag. Dashing is the men’s grooming bag.

There are also some brands that have step up gifts with purchase online and in store. I do believe stores have different options so if you’re near a store call them or stop by to check out the individual brand GWPs. 

The event runs through September 11th online and in stores with any $200 or more purchase, while supplies last at Barneys New York. Based on a comparison of this year’s bag to previous ones it does seem like they’ve mixed it all up quite a bit this season. There are a lot of minis I’ve never seen sampled before. As a sucker for minis I’m excited about having a mini of the La Mer Moisturizing Soft Cream and By Terry Baume de Rose. I’m also eager to try the Rodin Face Oil.

Have you stopped by Barneys yet? If so let me know what you bought! I love reading about hauls.

Many thanks to Barneys for sponsoring this post. Items that were press samples indicated with a c/o, others purchased by me.
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GWP

Space NK Autumn Beauty Edit – September 2016

September 7, 2016

September is a big month for beauty events and Space NK’s Autumn Beauty Edit is happening this week online and in stores. With any $250+ purchase, Space NK is giving away a gift bag filled with 29 beauty fragrance, skincare and makeup minis. If you’re one of the N.Dulge members you can shop the event early September 7-8th. There is an online code for N.Dulge members in case you can’t make it to the store, simply enter ESSENTIALS16 at checkout. The gift will be open to the public on September 9th in stores and online, while supplies last.

A peek at what’s inside this season’s gift bag. This is not your typical ordinary gift with purchase. In past seasons sometimes I’ve seen a number of repeats. While it’s nice to sample classics, I’m always looking to try new items. This year they have quite a few new items.

Space NK Limited Edition Cosmetic Bag
containing:

  • 111SKIN Space Anti Age Day Cream NAC Y2 (15ml) 
  • Aquareveal Satin Bright Soft Water Peel for Face (15ml) 
  • By Terry Baume de Rose Crystalline (2.3g) 
  • Derm Institute Anti-Oxidant Hydration Gel Masque (2 x 3ml) 
  • Diptyque Eau De Toilette (10ml, assorted scents) 
  • Diptyque Le Redouté Scented Candle (35g) 
  • Dermarché Labs FullFill (2g) 
  • Dr. Dennis Gross Skincare Ferulic + Retinol Wrinkle Recovery Overnight Serum (0.16oz) 
  • Eve Lom Morning Time Cleanser (50ml) 
  • Goldfaden MD Brightening Elixir (5ml) 
  • Hourglass Opaque Rouge Liquid Lipstick in Icon (1g) 
  • Juara Candlenut Body Crème (1.5oz) 
  • Kat Burki complete b Bio-Correcting Face Crème (5ml) 
  • Kevyn Aucoin The Essential Mascara (4g) 
  • Lipstick Queen Medieval Lipstick (1.5g) 
  • Malin + Goetz Vitamin E Face Moisturizer (1oz) 
  • MD Solar Sciences Mineral Tinted Crème SPF 30 (0.25oz) 
  • Mila Moursi Lifting Serum (4ml) 
  • Miriam Quevedo Platinum & Diamond Serum (50ml) 
  • Natura Bissé The Cure Cream (5ml) 
  • Omorovicza Deep Cleansing Mask (5ml) 
  • Oribe Gold Lust Repair & Restore Shampoo (15ml) 
  • Ouai Finishing Crème (0.5oz) 
  • Philip B. Light-Weight Deep Conditioning Crème Rinse (2oz) or Maui Wowie Volumizing & Thickening Beach Mist (2oz) 
  • R+Co Dallas Thickening Spray (1.7oz) 
  • Ren Flash Hydro Boost (10ml) 
  • Rodial Bee Venom Moisturizer (5ml) 
  • Smith & Cult Lip Gloss in Life in Photographs (0.08ml) 
  • Sunday Riley Good Genes (10ml)
There’s plenty to browse and shop in all categories for makeup, fragrance, hair care and skincare. This post from my summer NY visit might help give you a visual on brand selection. They just started carrying Surratt Beauty. There’s a new Face Oil and Lip Balm from Diptyque and the By Terry Rouge-Expert Click Sticks launched as well (although I have not yet tried them).

To recap on dates, N.Dulge Members can shop early today Sept 7 to 8. Promotion is open to public on September 9. Available online at spacenk.com (US only) and in stores, while supplies last.

Are you checking out the Space NK Autumn Beauty Edit event this year? Or are you shopping other events? Let me know if you have any recommendations for skincare that you’ve been loving.

Many thanks to Space NK for sending over a preview of the gift!
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Chanel

Chanel Fall 2016 Le Rouge Collection N°1 and Ultrawear Flawless Collection Picks

August 29, 2016

 

Today I have a few picks from a couple Chanel collections for fall. There are a series of new product launches, the first being the Le Rouge Collection N°1 and second being the Ultrawear Flawless Foundation Collection. I’ve been a long time fan of Chanel beauty and the fall launches are usually the ones I look forward to the most for new innovative products and shades that have a modern twist on classic colors. This year’s launches so far fall short of my expectations in terms of innovative colors and I found the options this year to be some of the most boring and unoriginal shades I think I’ve ever tested. I will admit that I do believe there are only so many ways to do red – perhaps at this point it’s already all been done? The quality for the most part is still excellent and I did find some things I have been really happy with – in general though, I feel the Chanel fall launches lack excitement, especially compared to previous collections.

 

In addition to the first color launch for fall Chanel a new foundation called Le Teint Ultra Tenue Ultrawear Flawless Foundation which is a fluid long-wear formula. The powder foundation has also been reformualted to a new silky formula called Le Teint Ultra Tenue Ultrawear Flawless Compact Foundation. I got a small sample of the liquid in shades 30 and 40 (my usual colors) to test. 30 is an almost perfect match, just a tiny bit too pink on my skin. It blended seamlessly on my skin, gave medium natural coverage, had impressive lasting power and stayed put all day without getting oily or patchy. The only down side is by evening I saw tiny little bumps surface along the sides of my face. After testing two days I saw bumps get worse so I suspect I am allergic to it which is a shame because it wears so beautifully. I have not yet tested the powder foundation but hope to go back to the counter soon to do so. There are two new blushes featured in this collection called Evening Beige and Rosewood which are not the baked formula (yay!!). More details below as I work my way through the colors I picked out from the two launches.

What I bought, listed below, first from the Ultra Wear Flawless Foundation Collection:

  • Joues Contraste in Rosewood is a medium rose pink
  • Joues Contraste in Evening Beige is a warm shimmering copper beige

From the Le Rouge Collection N°1 Collection:

  • Joues Contraste in Rouge Profond is a matte red
  • Le Vernis Nail Gloss in Rouge Radical is a transparent jelly red
  • Le Vernis in Rouge Puissant is a deep red
  • Rouge Allure in Rouge Ingenue is a nude cream beige

 

Swatches:

 

 

Up first are the three blushes. All three are the regular US formula which I prefer over the baked formula you’ll find in other countries. These are soft, finely milled, smooth powders that are easy to dust on the skin. All three are darker so if you’re medium-tan to deep in skintone and have found most Chanel blushes to be too light to show up, you will rejoice that Chanel has finally launched colors that will show up on your skintone! The pigment is quite intense so a super light hand is needed. I found the red in Rouge Profond to have an almost vintage feel. For my skintone I need a very light hand to be able to wear this and one swipe too many results in a clown-like look and almost burnt on my skin (scroll down to the bottom for a look).
For the two blush shades in the foundation launch, so far you can find them both online at Chanel and Neiman Marcus. At the moment, Nordstrom only has Rosewood and not Evening Beige. Rosewood is lighter and easier to wear compared to the fall red, but the intensity is still a bit much for me. By comparison I’ve just been completely blown away by the Marc Jacobs Beauty Air Blush (yes they’re very expensive but are amazing, review soon) which looks better on the skin compared to these. Last but not least, Evening Beige is probably the one unique shade of the bunch – it’s a warm coppery shimmer. I don’t really see beige in it, but I suppose one could call it a coppery beige. My personal preference is for the Golden Sun blush which is less warm and more of a beigey color.

 

 

Next is the Rouge Allure in Rouge Ingenue. Most of the colors launched are variations of red and this was the only light neutral. The color is a light beige cream which is absolutely gorgeous. Unfortunately the color went on my lips patchy and required a lot of blending, blotting and reapplying to get smooth application. I found this odd since I’ve had great success with most Rouge Allure lipstick formulas – I suspect the paleness of the color might have played a part in my application issues. Swatch comparisons below for some similar colors.

 

Left to right:

 

 

Last but not least the items I usually get the most excited about, the nail colors. There are two in the Le Rouge Collection N°1, one is the Le Vernis in Rouge Puissant which is a deep red cream. This one is almost identical to the discontinued Dragon, the Rouge Puissant is just a tiny bit darker. Once dried on the nails it deepens in color and appears to be a dark red that ages my hands. I would say unless you’re a Chanel collector, pass on this one. The other color is a Nail Gloss formula called Rouge Radical which is a transparent jelly red. I did not know what to expect with this one and was pleasantly surprised to find how opaque and pigmented it was once on the nails. Even though it has a transparent formula it covers the nail entirely for a bright red look. I absolutely love this one and by now it has already sold out at many locations (you can still find it online at Saks, Macy’s, Bloomingdale’s).

 

 

 

 

Comparison swatches, note that the Pirate shown is the older formula (I have not seen the new one to compare), Gitane is the new formula reviewed here:
Stand outs to me include the Nail Gloss in Rouge Radical and Joues Contraste in Evening Beige. I had high hopes for the new foundation but unfortunately caused tiny bumps to form so it’s a no-go for me. I passed on a lot from the the reds collection – I think red is hard for me to pull off, especially on the eyes which seemed to be a heavy focus for the illusion d’ombre, quad and liners. The rest just wasn’t really my cup of tea color-wise, but quick swatching at the counter showed the quality to still be on point. I do think the Rouge Profond blush is unique even if I think red blush is a bit boring – I keep hoping it will grow on me, but I have to apply with a very careful light hand. Even then, sometimes after it sets and warms on my skin the color darkens so I have to go back with my powder brush and blend along the edges. I’m usually hesitant to post negative reviews because I don’t want to offend anyone, especially in this case if you loved the pieces in this collection. I want to reiterate that products are great quality-wise, for reds I would have been head over heels had Chanel relaunched previously discontinued colors like Cosmic Violine, Tulip Noire or something that I feel are a bit more special.
Do note that many of the pieces in the red collection are limited-edition and some have already sold out online. You may have to do a bit of shopping around to find all the items if they’ve been on your list so I do recommend buying sooner than later if any of the colors speak to you.
You can find both the Le Rouge Collection N°1 and Ultrawear Flawless Collection online at Chanel.com. By now I’ve spotted both in store near me. Also available online at Nordstrom, Neiman Marcus, Saks Fifth Avenue and Bloomingdale’s.
Have you checked out Chanel fall bits yet? What did you think?

 

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Dior Eye Makeup Highlighters

Dior Skyline Collection for Fall 2016

August 23, 2016

The Dior Skyline Collection for Fall 2016 is the first fall collection I’m reviewing this year. A lot of you have been e-mailing me and messaging me about fall beauty which has just started to arrive at counters. The most highly requested item for review has been the Diorskin Nude Air Luminizer in this collection and I will say right up front go buy it now – Dior never disappoints with highlighters and they give a very pretty glow. The Dior team has also created a special promo code for Beauty Look Book readers so if you see any items that catch your eye, scroll down to the end of this post for details.

The items from fall that I have to review:

Up first are the standouts in my opinion which include the Diorblush Light and Contour Sticks and Diorskin Nude Air Luminizer. I already reviewed and swatched the contour sticks but I will repost photos for reference. As a quick recap, the Diorblush Light and Contour sticks are natural looking contour creams that are very easy to use and that won’t give you a harsh look. They blend nicely along the cheeks and for a contour-dummy like myself, they’re impossible to overdo.

A closer look at the contour sticks:

The Diorskin Nude Air Luminzer 001 for fall is absolutely stunning. It comes with an embossed design on the surface. This is one of those shades that will look different on everyone. Fair skin-toned beauty lovers will find this almost peachy while deeper skintones will find this more pale. On my medium skintone I find it to be a champagne gold with slight peachy tones. It’s finely milled, blends in with the skin flawlessly, doesn’t emphasize pores, stays put all day and has the prettiest sheen. The highlighter comes with a tiny kabuki brush which is well made but for me on the small side so I find it best for touch ups or on-the-go rather than for regular application.

Left is swatched heavily, right is blended out. You can blend or sheer out the color more if you prefer a more diffused glow. It’s absolutely perfect!

Swatch comparisons below show that the Nude Air Glowing Gardens 002 from spring is a tiny bit lighter than the Nude Air Luminizer for Fall 2016. On my face they are almost identical, I put one on each side of my face and they looked pretty close. Photos of course cannot do the shimmers or texture justice but I hope these help show the difference. And yes, even if you already own the spring versions, I think the one for fall is still a must.

Up next are the two Skyline Eyeshadow Palettes. These also come with a stunning embossed surface. Texture is similar to that of the highlighter – they’re powders with a slightly creamy feel. Pigment is medium but buildable and the texture melds in with the skin so they don’t look powdery. If you apply them with a slightly damp brush the color can be intensified.

Capital of Light has a mix of shimmery and satiny shades including a gorgeous grey taupe, pale ivory white shimmer, satiny baby pink, shimmering tan and deep violet plum. The mix of colors creates a pretty smokey plum eye.

Parisian Sky has all shimmery shades. This one is better suited for an everyday kind of look. The colors include a shimmering tan, light sand shimmer, pale blue shimmer, silvery blue sparkle and deep chocolate shimmer. The blues give a sheer wash on the eyes and brighten the entire eye area when layered with the sand and beige colors. As one who rarely wears blue colors on the eyes, I found these surprisingly wearable.

Next up are two lip colors for the fall collection which is the Addict Hydra-Gel Core Mirror Shine Lipsticks ($35 each). There are a few repromoted colors like Incognito 316 which is a classic neutral pink that pulls cool on my skintone. There is one new limited-edition color called Sophisticated 927 which is a cool-toned plum with a silvery sheen. These have a smooth sheer to medium coverage and glossy shine. If you’re one who likes glossy finish lipsticks but want something to give visible coverage these are it. They have more coverage than the Rouge Dior Baumes but have that same glossy finish. These have a semi-thick almost gel-like feel which makes the pigment adhere well to the lips. Adding a liner of course will help extend the wear but they feel very comfortable on and fade nicely. As far as I can tell there is no detectable scent.

I applied these on the arm with a lip brush because these are the types of lip colors that don’t show up well on arm swatches straight from the tube, but do on the lips:

Below, applied straight from the tube on bare lips:

Last but not least are the Dior Vernis nail polishes in Minimal and Skyline. Both look very standard in the bottles and borderline boring. I will say at first glance I thought they looked a bit unimpressive but Dior polishes rarely disappoint. In my opinion, out of all the luxury brands that have reformulated their nail polishes over the years, the Dior revamp has been the best. Formula has always been top notch with a smooth, glossy flawless finish. They improved the brush by rounding the tips so application is really easy. Minimal is a perfect creamy beige peachy nude. Good nudes can be hard to find and this one brightens the hands without looking too pale. Skyline is a gorgeous chocolate cream, also not the most unique color but it has the perfect mix of brown and vamp to give the hands a perfectly polished look.

A lot of you have asked for nail comparisons – I’m fresh out of nail wheels so I will post comparisons in a separate post as soon as I get them in the mail. I will say right now though that Minimal is almost an exact dupe for Chanel’s discontinued Secret (the Dior is a bit brighter and has smoother/better coverage) and by comparison Chanel’s discontinued Emprise is a lot peachier and darker.

Two coats in sunlight:

Two coats of Skyline:

Bottom line gorgeous. Top three stand outs to me are the Diorskin Nude Air Luminzer 001 and Dior Vernis in Skyline and Minimal. The Addict Hydra-Gel Core Mirror Shine Lipsticks comes in close fourth for formula – right now I’m still in the summer state of mind but I think Sophisticated is perfect for fall. Quality-wise everything is excellent. Pigment on everything is rich and visible on the skin but easy to blend and layer for those who like a natural refined beauty look. If you buy just one item I would say go for the highlighter unless you already have a lot and don’t feel the need for one more in which case I would say opt for the Minimal nail polish. It’s a great everyday neutral that will give the hands a clean polished look.

Dior is offering an exclusive promo for Beauty Look Book readers. Dior.com usually offers complimentary samples with any online order but starting today through the end of the month they are giving my readers extra deluxe samples. With any $100+ purchase using code BEAUTYLB at Dior.com you will get some extra deluxe minis including a 5 ml Miss Dior Absolutely Blooming fragrance, mini Hydralife Sleeping Mask packette and mini Diorshow Maximizer 3D. Code is valid today through 8/31/2016, while supplies last (U.S. site only).

You can find the Dior Skyline Collection for fall available now online at Dior.com and at all Dior counters. All the items are limited-edition. Have you checked out the fall pieces yet? What did you think? If you haven’t, what’s on your wishlist?

Skyline Collection provided courtesy of Dior for review consideration. Many thanks to Dior for providing my readers with a special promo code!
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Uncategorized

MAC Viva Glam Ariana Grande II

August 22, 2016

I’m thrilled to be able to share a sneak preview of the next MAC Viva Glam collection with the Viva Glam Ariana Grande 2 Lipstick ($17) and Lipglass ($16). Both will launch next month online and in stores on September 8th. While most Viva Glam collections have a matching lipstick and lipgloss, this launch, similar to the first MAC x Ariana Grande collaboration has contrasting shades.

The Viva Glam Ariana Grande 2 Lipstick is a matte formula and is a medium-bright cool-toned orchid pink. Viva Glam Ariana Grande 2 Lipglass has a tiny bit of shimmer and is a neutral-cool mauve pink nude. I of course am 100% obsessed with the mauvey-nude color of the lipglass. If you’re looking for a lipstick version to layer the gloss with, the closest I’ve found is Charlotte Tilbury Matte Revolution in Very Victoria (reviewed here). I thought I could find a MAC lipstick version – it’s possible there is one, but the neutrals in that color range that I own are either deeper or warmer in color (ie Velvet Teddy, Brave, So Select etc).

More photos, swatches and comparisons below:

As always, lip products swatched on bare lips, foundation shade is Make Up For Ever Ultra HD Invisible Cover Foundation in Y315:

Swatches and comparisons:

Swatch comparison Set 1:

Swatch comparison Set 2:

The lipstick of course is brighter and bolder than what I would wear for everyday but still fun. Considering it’s very cool-toned I find it’s not too cool on my olive complexion (although still very bright). I’m in love with the lipglass though – it’s the perfect everyday mauvey neutral that I think will look good on every skintone.

Both will be available online and in stores on September 8th. At maccosmetics.com and other MAC counters. They are limited-edition.

Have you seen these yet? If not what do you think?

Press samples of the MAC Viva Glam Ariana Grande 2 provided courtesy of MAC for review consideration.

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Fragrance Highlighters Tom Ford Beauty

Tom Ford Beauty Black Orchid Eau de Parfum + Nightbloom Powder in Black Bloom

August 18, 2016

For fall Tom Ford Beauty is launching a few mini collections, the first is the Orchid Collection which highlights two fragrances in Black Orchid and Orchid Soleil along with corresponding powders and lipsticks to match the mood of each scent. A lovely package of the Black Orchid Eau de Parfum ($120 for 50 ml) and Nightbloom Powder in Black Bloom ($80) arrived a few months ago but I decided to wait closer to fall to review these. Scent is often very seasonal for me and some perfumes I can’t get in the mood for if it’s not the right time of year. Now that fall is approaching I am ready to review two items from the Orchid Collection. I have also purchased the Orchid Soleil perfume and a few other pieces which I hope to review in the next couple of weeks.

Both the Nightbloom Powder and Black Orchid Eau de Parfum come in matching packaging with the embossed striped black case and gold accent. The powder compact is the same size as the small bronzing powders and cream cheek colors from summer.

Black Orchid Eau de Parfum is not a new frangrance – it’s been a classic in the Tom Ford Beauty line for many years. For me this is a rich and spicy scent with a dark feel. To me it’s distinctly feminine, but pulls on the masculine side. Notes include bergamot, citrus accord, mandarin, gardenia, jasmine, ylang-ylang, lotus, orchid spicy floral accord, orchid, patchouli, sandalwood, incense, vanilla. If I were to sum it up in three words it would be “dark seductive floral.” Lasting power is very good – I find all Tom Ford scents to be long lasting, but this one is one of the strongest I’ve tried. While I am drawn to unisex scents that have notes like sandalwood and amber, Tom Ford Black Orchid is a bit darker than I would normally wear, even for date nights. It has a distinct and unique scent that feels very luxurious. I’m just not sure that it’s my cup of tea – but my nose has been known to change in taste. There are a few fragrances I did not like in my mid-20’s that I adore right now that I’m in my mid-30’s.

The Nightbloom Powder in Black Bloom is a gold shimmery highlighter with a strong yellow sheen. It has a very soft fragrance added but it does not really smell like the Black Orchid perfume. The shimmer is visible with lovely silver and gold sparkles. It has a smooth medium to medium-full coverage for pigment and is easy to blend. Quality-wise it’s excellent, doesn’t emphasize pores, doesn’t look overly frosted and stays put all day long without fall out or fading. Color-wise, I’ve mentioned numerous times before that I tend to stay away from yellowy-gold highlighters because it often clashes with my skintone. Alone on the skin it is indeed very yellow, but once I add a bronzer or blush, the yellow tones balance out a bit.

Swatch comparisons below to a few other highlighters. Tom Ford Night Bloom as the strongest yellow undertones.

Both the Black Orchid Eau de Parfum and Nightbloom Powder in Black Bloom are luxurious splurges that I was thrilled to be able to try. I’m a huge fan of Tom Ford Beauty and some of his fragrances are among my favorites (right now I’m obsessed with Soleil Blanc). Black Orchid as I suspected based on previous sniffs and spritzes at the counter is one of those scents that I distinctly seductive and beautiful, just not one I can see myself wearing on a regular basis. For me, my best date night scent is still Viktor and Rolf Flowerbomb.

The Nightbloom Powder is beyond gorgeous in every aspect from the packaging, texture, shimmer and color. However, since I tend to gravitate to peachy champagne colors for highlighters I can’t call this a must-have for me but I am very grateful a sample was sent for me to test out. I have high hopes for the pink one which I just ordered so stay tuned for a review on that one soon! Quality wise both items are a solid thumbs up.
Right now the Orchid Collection appears to have certain pieces that are available at select locations. The powders, lipsticks and solid perfumes can be found only at Tom Ford, Neiman Marcus, Bergdorf Goodman (for pre-order) and Selfridges (each of the stores list the collection as exclusive). The regular spray perfumes can be found at all other Tom Ford counters and stores.

Have you tried anything from the Orchid Collection yet? What did you think?

Black Orchid and Black Bloom both provided for review consideration.

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