The holiday season is in full swing and I have another holiday inspired beauty post to share with you today. Last month I shared some Champagne and Gold Shimmer favorites from Nordstrom. I’m a neutral makeup lover at heart but still like to like to wear brighter colors. Red is very much in season although finding a good red nail color is easy with so many good options, finding a good red lip can be challenging for me. I have full lips that tend to pull a lot of pink with lipsticks and glosses. Many reds can be too bright, pull orange, or turn fuchsia pink if they have too much blue.
I’ve pulled seven of my favorite reds ranging from soft pink red to a deep berry red for lips that I’d recommend for neutral lip lovers. They have enough pigment for those who want a bolder lip, but still natural enough to be wearable for even the most conservative makeup wearer.
If you’re super scared of red, opt for a pink red. YSL Volupté Sheer Candy Succulent Pomegranate #4 (1) is a super sheer but hot pink with some red. It has a sheer glossy finish which makes it more wearable. Burberry Oxblood Lip Glow Lip Gloss (2) looks super dark in the tube but has a jelly finish making it a super sheer jelly pink red.
If you’re braver for more color, NARS Tech Fashion Gloss Shade IV (3) is a warm red, there is a hint of a natural shimmer in it making it not a pure red. The warmth also makes it softer.
For those who want a true red with shine, I’d recommend Chanel Rouge Allure Gloss in Seduction (4) which stays put quite well for a gloss formula. It’s layerable for rich color but still has a hint of pink making it a youthful red. NARS Burning Love Lip Gloss (5) is a true red that packs a punch. For a gloss, this is also very pigmented. This is the true-est red I have that is the perfect in between of warm and cool. For me, this is the perfect holiday red.
If you want a lush brighter red, Fresh Sugar Lip Treatment in Sugar Cherry (6) is surprisingly pigmented on the lips. Swatched on the arms or hands it looks like it will barely show up, but the Fresh Sugar Lips tend to adhere really well to the lips which brings out the color. This one just glows.
For those who want a deeper berry red, Burberry Beauty Lip Mist in Oxblood (7) is as perfect as it gets for deep reds. It’s a hybrid gel formula so it’s supposed to be sheer, but the formula hugs the lips and swiping back and forth brings out the color. Burberry Blueberry Lip Mist is a redder and deeper option. Oxblood also comes in a more pigmented Lip Cover version as well.
If you still are convinced you can’t pull of red lips but still want to wear red, nail polish is the easiest way to incorporate a bit of red into your holiday beauty routine. The best thing about red nail polish is that it’s timeless. There’s no need to buy a new color if you already own reds, you can always shop your stash from spring or summer. That being said, I do always look forward to what brands release each holiday for their version of what they think is the latest and greatest modern red. Three I’m loving right now include:
Burberry Oxblood is re-promoted this season with gold packaging for holiday. It’s a jelly deep oxblood color. Two coats will give you a deep plum red. Chanel Expression (from late fall) is the perfect hybrid of red and pink. On me it definitely leans more red, but the pink tone brightens the colors and makes the hands look alive (not drab). YSL Rouge Pablo was a release from spring. It’s a bright and very warm red but festive.
Some inspiration on what to coordinate with a red lip. Keep the eyes and cheeks simple since the statement color will be on your lips. Neutral earthy eyes can be dressed up with deeper smokey browns or blacks. For cheeks, I’ve always found earthy, peachy or soft bronzed colors work well with any undertone of red.
Do you like to wear reds for lips and nails for holiday? Please let me know what your favorite go-to’s are! Or if you have any new recent discoveries I’d love to hear about those too.
Special thanks to Nordstrom for sponsoring this post. Burberry Oxblood Lip Glow, Lip Mist and Nail Polish were provided for review consideration. All other items purchased by me. As always, all opinions are my own. For more info, you can refer to my Disclosures.
This Thursday on November 20th, Fresh Beauty will have their special Fresh Blue Box parked at the Grove in Los Angeles for everyone to visit. They will have an assortment of fun activities and the Fresh Beauty team will be giving out free Fresh goodies/samples. You can also create customized cosmetic cases with your own lip print and signature. In addition they will have chances for you to enter contests and experience Fresh’s beloved Sugar Lip Treatments first hand. The Fresh Blue Box will be at The Grove Thursday from 10 am – 6 pm.
If you can’t make it to their stop in LA this week, the Fresh Blue Box will also be making an appearance at the new Fresh store opening in Pasadena on December 10th – 11th. For more information be sure to visit their microsite Fresh Blue Box or follow them through their pages on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter to stay up to date with the latest (look for #freshbluebox).
If you aren’t in Southern California an are unable to make it to either stop, you can still experience the Blue Box from home with their My First Fresh Kiss campaign. This is a fun interactive microsite to celebrate their beloved Sugar Lip Treatment. Now through December 12th, Fresh fans can visit the Fresh Blue Box website to enter the Kissing Confessional. Share the story of your first kiss by uploading a video or photo for the chance to win a $1,000 shopping spree on Fresh.com. (Look for #FirstFreshKiss on their social channels.)
This looks like a fun event I thought I’d share. I totally wish I could visit the Blue Box at The Grove tomorrow, but my schedule is tied up this week so I won’t be able to make it. If you are in the Los Angeles area and are able to go, snap a picture and let me know. I would love to hear about it!
Here is my first gift guide for the holiday season. This time of year always brings about tempting value sets and travel-sized beauty gifts. I think these travel-friendly sets are a great way to try new skincare without committing to the full-sized options. For color, if you’re one of the types that takes forever to use up an eyeliner or lipstick, minis are the way to go and get more options for the same price. Here are some gifts this year that I think look like great samplers.
Have you bought any good sets this year yet? I’d love to hear what you’ve been eyeing and any loves so far. I’m always up for recommendations on what is the latest and greatest on the market for the holiday sets and gifts.
Several have requested a monthly favorites round up – welcome to The Beauty Look Book’s first monthly favorites feature! I wanted to feature some midsummer beauty favorites for the skin, body and hair. Many of these items are things I’ve been using all summer long.
Caudalie Make-up Removing Cleansing Water is a gentle lightweight cleansing water that refreshes the skin. It won’t remove waterproof eye makeup or mascara all the way, but I like this for the face. I have this in the full size as well but like to keep the small travel sizes.
Nuxe Huile Prodigieuse has been a favorite this summer for dry body oils. (Three I tested here.) I alternate between this and the Caudalie Divine Oil, but lately I’ve been reaching more for the Nuxe, the fresh floral beach-like scent is perfect for summer. It layers nicely with most perfumes as it’s very gentle and not overpowering. I love that the skin absorbs it quickly.
Oribe Dry Texturizing Spray is an alternative to dry shampoo. I’ve tried several and don’t like the powdery crunchy look they give to the hair. The Oribe Dry Texturizing Spray is the only one I’ve tried that doesn’t leave any residue. It’s more of a texturizing spray that I like to use on days where my hair looks a bit flat. I love all things Oribe that I’ve tried it’s a brand I keep exploring and looking into. The signature Oribe scent is incredible.
St. Tropez Bronzing Mousse is a new discovery this year and it is hands down my favorite self tan product. I purchased the mini size to compare it to the Gradual an Everyday Body Lotion from Sephora. I tested each one simultaneously with the mousse on one leg and the lotion on the other. The mousse gives a better tan without being orange. The lotion has a more gradual darkening effect. The tint to the mousse also helps you see where you applied product and helps as a guide for even application. It didn’t stain or transfer to white sheets and after letting it set for 10 minutes I found it didn’t transfer to a white denim skirt. I applied it for two consecutive days and my tan will last about 5 days. I have super sensitive skin and I’ve gotten allergic reactions to spray tans and other self tan products (like Clarins).
First Aid Beauty Skin Rescue Deep Cleanser was sent for review and it is an amazing cleanser. It has red clay which is suppose to draw out toxins, remove oil and unclog pores. It’s designed for combination or oily skin. My skin is slightly combination, dry on the cheeks area and slightly oily in the T zone. I found this to be amazing at unclogging pores. It comes with a slightly gel-like texture that is a reddish pink with a pearly shimmer. It works well with the hands, a washcloth and my Clarisonic Aria. It’s gentle enough for my sensitive skin but very effective. I’m on my second tube.
Tom Ford Mandarino di Amalfi is one of Tom Ford’s latest, it’s one of two new scents that are an extension of the Neroli Portofino line. I can’t wear a lot of orange citrus scents but Tom Ford is the only one I can pull off. It’s the perfect summertime scent with citrus, florals and musk.
Fresh Lotus Youth Preserve Face Cream is something I bought from the Flower Power Kit (has the Lotus Youth Preserve Face Cream in 1 oz, Rose Face Mask in 1 oz, Sugar Tulip and Rose Floral Toner 0.5 oz). I love this lightweight face cream for hydration. It’s too heavy for me right now for daily use but I like to use it 2x per week during the day and alternate this as a night cream. It has a refreshing cucumber scent and feels amazing on the skin. It makes the skin look refreshed and improves the overall skin tone by smoothing over time and is great for calming the skin.
MAC Cleanse Off Oil has been my favorite go-to for removing makeup at the end of the day. I did a roundup of several oils I tested and the MAC is one I keep reaching for because it has the best emulsifying quality and gets everything off without leaving a residue or drying out the skin.
Origins Clear Improvement Charcoal Mask is something I tried with the mini pods first. I liked it so much I bought the full size. It’s a mask that really works and clears pores. It has a slight tingly effect the first few minutes but it goes away. The charcoal and white clay both work to draw out pore-cloggers. I’ve used it up to 3x per week when my skin was messed up. I don’t recommend using it if you have broken skin or areas with irritation, but it is a gentle enough mask that won’t sting your skin.
Malin+Goetz Lip Moisturizer is my summer favorite for a relative inexpensive lip balm with a nice lightweight gel formula. It’s super effective without being too rich or heavy for summer.
L’Occitane Extra Gentle Lotion for Hands and Body has been a staple for me for years. It’s the only body lotion I’ve repurchased. It has a super lightweight feel that absorbs into the skin. It’s part of the Shea Butter line and is moisturizing and soothing.
Bumble and Bumble Invisible Oil Primer was a Sephora freebie. It’s a pre-styler product that I apply to the hair before blow drying and it helps smooth the hair, decreases frizz and protects it from heat styling. It smells absolutely amazing like coconut and vanilla. It adds softness and shine without weighing down the hair.
L’Occitane Frisson de Verveine Hand Cream Gel is a great alternative to regular hand creams for the summer. It’s a unique hand moisturizer that absorbs into the skin really quickly. It has an interesting dry down that’s smooth and soothing with a slight velvety feel. It comes in the new Frisson Verbena scent which is a lightweight summery lime. One tube was sent for review and I’ve already purchased a second one.
Tatcha Aburatorigami Beauty Papers are the perfect blotting papers for me. They are compact and easy to carry in the purse. I love how they are super absorbent without having any powdery residue. I use about one sheet with every use and it’s so much better than touching up with powder mid-day or late afternoon. Sometimes with the summer heat and humidity I’ve found adding powder to oily skin can get cakey (at least on me).
Chanel UV Essential Anti-Pollution Broad Spectrum SPF 50 is the only face sunscreen I like to use. It’s lightweight and absorbs into the skin quickly. I like to layer serum with moisturizer under my foundation but I don’t like anything that feels heavy. This sunscreen is light enough to wear with both a serum and moisturizer and foundation. It’s suitable for my sensitive skin. It also comes with an SPF 20 and SPF 30 versions as well.
What have been your summer favorites this past month?
Fresh Beauty has a new lip treatment in Sugar Ruby
Marc Jacobs Beauty Kiss Pop Lip Color Sticks keep calling my name, I’ve played with them a couple times in store, I think I will be getting Pow or Heartbreaker on my next visit
Clé de Peau Beauté Fall 2014 brings us eight new Eye Shadow Quads, I’ve never splurged on their eye shadows but the colors are stunning, loving the look of Stellar Gaze and Satin Moon
Tatcha has a new Travel Kit that comes with a cute clear pouch,Deep Hydration Lifting Mask, Dewy Skin Mist, Deep Hydration Revitalizing Eye Mask, Soothing Silk Hand Cream Travel Size, Original Aburatorigami, Camellia Nourishing Lip Balm
Bumble and Bumble Hairdresser’s Invisible Oil line smells absolutely divine, I tried a small sample packet and am contemplating the Hairdresser’s Invisible Oil Travel Kit before splurging on full sizes
Fresh has extended their Sugar Shine Lip Treatment line with three tinted shades in Rosé, Honey and Cherry ($18.50 each for 6 ml/0.2 fl oz). I’ve been a huge fan of the Clear Sugar Shine Lip Treatment for its high shine finish and sweet lemon-sugar scent. I like it more as a clear gloss rather than a lip treatment but like the way it feels on my sensitive lips. I ordered the tinted version from Sephora the week they launched online. They apply smoothly just like the clear version with a high shine finish. Rosé is a soft rosy pink with a transparent finish. Honey is a warm honey shimmer color. Cherry is a super sheer cherry red gloss. My favorite of the three is Rosé because it gives the lips a healthy soft tint of pink color. They have a slight plumping factor but without any tingly feeling (huge plus for me).
These come with a sponge tip applicator:
Swatches of Rosé, Honey and Cherry:
Rosé is my favorite of the three, it’s a soft classic rose pink with flawless coverage.
Honey has a bit of shimmer in the tube but it’s very subtle on the lips. It’s a full-coverage kind of gloss on me but you can sheer it out.
Cherry settles into my fine lip lines if it’s not blended well, I suspect it will be better over a lipliner or chubby stick to intensify the red color and make application smoother-looking. You can see my natural lip underneath in the swatch below.
I pulled out the corresponding Lip Treatments with the same names (the ones that come in a twist up stick/tube form) and swatched them side by side. The colors of the Lip Treatments vs. Sugar Shine Lip Treatments is very similar on the lips. I prefer the texture of the tube/sticks but mine always break easily. The gloss/sticks are much more convenient and easier to apply for me.
For additional reference on how these look on the lips, you can see the Sugar Rosé Lip Treatment lip swatched here. Sugar Honey swatched on lips here.
Huge thumbs up for Rosé and Honey Sugar Shine Lip Treatments. Cherry is a gorgeous sheer glossy red but it’s not super flattering when the color settles into lip lines. It need something underneath to work for me. I like the smooth texture and glossy finish. The scent is absolutely delicious – sweet but not overly sweet which is a huge plus for me since I tend to be picky with the way lip products smell.
I was at my local Sephora over the weekend and didn’t see these in store yet but I suspect they will be arriving soon. I ordered my Tinted Sugar Shine Lip Treatments online from Sephora.com. Currently available at Fresh.com too.
Are you a fan of Fresh Sugar Lip Treatments or the Sugar Shine Lip Treatment? Which ones are your favorites?
I hope everyone had a great 4th of July! A few items currently on my radar, from top left clockwise:
Fresh Sugar Shine Lip Treatments ($18.50 each) now come in three tinted colors, I’ve been a fan of the clear version so I ordered all three of the new ones a couple days ago
Chanel Les 4 Ombres Multi Effect Eyeshadow ($61 each) have launched on Chanel.com, I spotted Poesie #234 in store at Neiman Marcus, also available online now at Macy’s
Smashbox Full Exposure Travel Size ($22) is a small version of the Full Exposure palette, the travel one has 8 shades, it’s the size of a credit card (posted on my Instagram)
I’m looking for red and plum lips that aren’t too red or too vampy:
Marc Jacobs Lovemarc Lip Gel in Cabaret ($30) is part of the 1000 Point Perk but now available for purchase for VIB Rouge members (online only), I need it now
There are a lot of nail polishes releases coming up this fall:
NARS is reformulating their nail polish with 43 shades, 19 of these will be new ($20 each), available July 15 on narscosmetics.com, August 1 all other locations
Laura Mercier Hi-Lite Duo ($15) has a mini Baby Bare lipgloss and Matte Radiance Baked Bronzer in Highlight, I’m a sucker for $15 and under mini items, I’ve heard so many good things about the baked bronzer, tell me do I need this?
What’s on your radar this week? Have you seen any other new fall items in stores yet? I’m eagerly waiting to see Tom Ford and all the Chanel quads.
