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Holiday 2014

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Burberry Beauty Winter Glow // Shades of Gold and Oxblood for Lips and Nails

December 10, 2014

Burberry’s holiday collection this year focuses on shades of gold and oxblood. There are two color sets for lips and nails, each with matching shades of their Lip Glow ($29 each), Lip Mist ($33 each) and Nail Polish ($22 each). Each item in the holiday collection comes with a special limited-edition gold colored check pattern on the packaging. The Oxblood Look colors are repromoted shades but the Gold Look items are new this year.

The Gold colors in this year’s collection are sheer cool-toned golds. I found the shades unique for a gold color. Typically golds for holidays are brighter or warmer. The items from Burberry have a pale tinge to them making them different than most.

  • Gold No. 27 Lip Mist is a unique pale gold. It has a sheer formula which makes it forgiving but on my lips it applies like a cool nude with gold shimmer. I prefer this one dabbed on the lips in a sheer wash. If I layer this too much, it makes my pigmented lips look a bit too pale-looking.
  • Gold No. 25 Lip Glow is a sheer sparkling gold. The sparkles are larger than finely milled shimmer with add a beautiful sparkle to the lips. While the shimmer is on the heavy side, the gloss is smooth in texture and I find the shimmer to be very wearable, even for those conservative on shimmer for the lips. I found it best layered over another lipstick. It’s a bit sheer when worn alone.
  • Gold No. 447 Nail Polish is a pale yellow beige gold shimmer. The formula is excellent with smooth and rich coverage. It applies flawlessly on the nail and with two coats you get full coverage with a slight hint of silver sparkle. Unfortunately it doesn’t work so well with my olive skin tone. I suspect colors like this will work better on those with pink undertones in the skin. For me the yellow clashes with my olive skin. It is a wearable color and I’ve asked a few friends for their input. They like it, but don’t love it on me.

Swatches:

Comparisons for the lip glosses: MAC Gold Mirror Lipglass (discontinued), Dior Gold Rain Addict Lip Gloss (holiday, limited-edition), Burberry Nude Gold Lip Glow, NARS Greek Holiday Lip Gloss, NARS Gold Digger Larger Than Life Lip Gloss

The Oxblood colors are repromoted shades. I’ve reviewed the original Oxblood line before, but reswatched everything from this year’s collection to see if the colors are the same. They are.

  • Oxblood No. 214 Lip Mist is a gel-like lipstick formula. The Lip Mists are sheerer than the Lip Covers but still have very good pigment. I find the Lip Mist adheres better to the lip even though it has a glossy finish. There is a semi-transparent quality but the colors still cover the lip entirely and evenly with a few swipes back and forth. Oxblood looks like a deep vampy color in the tube. On the lips it’s a brighter sheer red. It deepens if you layer it. If you apply one swipe the color is a sheer red.
  • Oxblood No. 23 Lip Glow is another color that applies sheerer on the lips than what you see in the tube. This is a lovely sheer pink red with a hint of vamp. It wears well alone but looks good layered over the lipstick for added intensity and shine.
  • Oxblood No. 303 Nail Polish is a deep vampy red. It seems to have improved in formula over the original one released several years ago with better smoother coverage. The brush is still wide and flat but seems easier to use than what I remember from my original review. The color is still identical to the original version.

Swatches:

Comparisons on the lips to: Burberry Hibiscus Lip Glow (slightly deeper than oxblood), Oxblood Lip Cover (is deeper and darker), Blueberry Lip Mist (is less blue/red but similar in effect):

Both the Gold and Oxblood are beautiful classics for the holidays giving you options for subtle or dramatic looks. My favorite items are the Gold Lip Glow, Oxblood Lip Mist and Oxblood Lip Glow. If you already own the Oxblood shades, the good news is you can shop your stash for a lovely understated but still slightly bold holiday red that isn’t too garish or bright.
All the items are limited-edition. Right now Burberry has all the items in stock online. Burberry Beauty is also carried at other retailers such as Nordstrom, Saks and Net-A-Porter, but some of the holiday pieces have started to sell out so you may need to shop around to pick out the pieces you want.
Have you checked out the Burberry Winter Glow collection yet? What did you think?
The Burberry Winter Glow items in this review were provided free of charge from Burberry for review consideration. All other items purchased by me.
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Holiday Gift Guide: $100 and Under

December 8, 2014

Looking for a luxe gift but want something $100 or under? Here’s a roundup of some beauty and accessory ideas for inspiration.

1 / Diptyque Baies $90, 10.2 oz in a large black glass jar
2 / Chanel Give It Shine Glossimer Trio $90, includes Amour, Sweet Beige and Wild Rose
3 / Urban Decay Naked 3 $54 swatches + review here
8 / Chanel Rêve D’Orient Quadra Eye Shadow ($70) swatches + review here
9 / Dior Holiday Nail Color Trio $75, includes Pandore, Rouge 999, Nuit 1947, swatches here
12 / Byredo Cardamome Candle – Amber Collection $95
(P.S. the 8th is last day of Tatcha’s 20% off sale with code FF2014)
18 / Hourglass Ambient Lighting Blush Palette $58, review + swatches here

Some more ideas:

Hope you are enjoying the last bits of your weekend!

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Holiday Gift Guide: $50 and Under

December 4, 2014

Here are some gift ideas that are under $50. If you have any good gift ideas or discoveries this year, please share in the comments!

1 / NARS Audacious Lipsticks ($32 each) (my reviews here and here)
2 / Diptyque Figuier Candle 2.4 oz ($30)
5 / Grace: A Memoir ($35, discounted price at Amazon)
7 / Chanel Rouge Allure Gloss ($34 each) (my swatch picks here)
11 / J.Crew Pocket Umbrella ($26.50)
15 / Eve Lom Hand Cream with SPF 10 ($35)
17 / Russell and Hazel Acrylic Desk Stapler ($24, discounted price at Amazon)

A few more gift options and ideas, all $50 and under:

In case you missed these two, be sure to check out my other gift guides:

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Chanel

Chanel Rêve D’Orient Quadra Eye Shadow

December 3, 2014
Chanel has released a limited-edition eye shadow palette called Rêve D’Orient Quadra Eye Shadow ($70 for 2 g/0.07 oz, made in Italy). It was initially a special release only to the Chanel Boutique in New York on 57th Street. My dear friend Café Makeup e-mailed me to let me know the news in early October. By the time I received my order in the mail it sold out. The good news for Chanel fans is that this palette has launched at other retailers. I have thoughts and swatches to share with you today.

Chanel Rêve D’Orient was designed for the Dubai Cruise Show earlier this year. Each shade has a stunning star pattern embossed on the powders. Opening it simply took my breath away. The colors in the palette are well pigmented. The shades are a bit powdery so you might get a tiny bit of fall out with it, but it isn’t anything different than I experience with most powder shadows. The pigment is very smooth. All the shades have some degree of shimmer. The shades are quite complex with multi-dimensional shimmers. In some light the colors look more warm, in other lighting (like the one below) the gold tones show up more making it look more neutral.


The colors that are in this palette:
  • Deep warm brown with a very natural shimmery sheen
  • White gold ivory shimmer, I like that this is an ivory color that doesn’t turn yellow
  • Sparkling but very smooth true gold shimmer
  • Satiny pigmented black, this one applies very smoothly

Swatched on the arms with a brush. The palette comes with tiny white-tipped sponge applicators but I always prefer to use brushes:

Some have wondered how the Chanel Rêve D’Orient compares to the Charlotte Tilbury Fallen Angel. Both have beautiful star patterns embossed on the surface. They are very similar in overall effect, I would say that the Charlotte Tilbury pulls more cool-toned on me, while the Chanel is more neutral.

The differences I’ve seen from testing:

  • Charlotte Tilbury’s quad has a creamy texture, Chanel’s quad is more like a traditional powder
  • The black shades apply almost identical in the finish, I have a slight preference for Chanel’s because it’s more satiny and slightly smoother when you apply it
  • The deep bronze shade in Charlotte’s is more metallic, Chanel’s bronze has slightly more red/plum
  • Charlotte Tilbury’s pale shades are ivory champagne pink and silvery tan with a mauve sheen
  • Chanel’s pale shades are an ivory gold that’s off-white and the gold is a pure gold

Between the two, I prefer the Chanel, mainly because I can wear neutrals on the eyes easier than I can pull off cool tones. Although the shades in the Chanel palette do have a similar vibe to previously released singles, I think the formula, texture and pigment in the Chanel Rêve D’Orient surpasses the singles. The colors just blend in beautifully with the lids and the color adheres well to the lids. They layer together really well and the shades are distinct enough in undertone and texture that they don’t all look the same once applied.

It’s a splurge at $70 but in my opinion I’ve found it to be totally worth the splurge. It performs well, the pigment is super smooth, the colors are super easy to wear, and it’s extremely versatile for day, night and almost any occasion.

The Chanel Rêve D’Orient Quadra Eye Shadow is limited-edition. It has already sold out on a few sites I mentioned a few days ago, but right now still available at Nordstrom, Macy’s and Chanel.com.

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Holiday Beauty: Reds for Lips and Nails

December 3, 2014

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.

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Marc Jacobs Beauty

Marc Jacobs Beauty The Sky-Liner Petites Highliner Collection

December 2, 2014

Marc Jacobs Beauty released some beautiful sets for the holiday season. The Sky-Liner Petites Highliner Collection ($45 for 7 eyeliner minis, each 0.37 g / 0.01 oz) has been on my list for quite some time and after a few days of testing I can say that I think it’s a must if you like eyeliner and want some options that are beyond the basic black and brown.

This set has seven different minis of the Marc Jacobs Beauty Highliners (full sized options are $25 each). These are twist-up gel pencils that are waterproof. The pigment of these is quite intense but the formula is smooth and glides on the eyes nicely without any tugging. I was really pleased to find how easy it was to layer nicely and get a precise line. Given the smooth texture when you apply these, I was worried these might be one of those types of pencils that didn’t stay put. But after you let these sit for a minute, they truly are budge-proof. Compared to other long-wear pencils, I would say these last a lot longer than Urban Decay 24/7 pencils and even more than Chanel Stylo Yeuxs. Lasting power is as good as Burberry Effortless Kohls (reviewed here).

I had tested a mini that was a Sephora Beauty Insider 100 Point perk back in August and loved it. The other shades in this set are just as good and had it not been for the minis I probably wouldn’t have tried some of the other fun colors and totally missed out. It comes cased in a sleek black tin.

All the shades are shimmery except Blacquer. The shimmer isn’t overly frosty on the eyes though, for me it’s really perfect. I’m in my early 30’s and for those who want to know if anyone over 25 years of age can wear these, I would say absolutely yes.

The colors in the Sky-Liner Highliner set include:

  • O(Vert) is a shimmery sage green
  • Brown(Out) is a metallic deep chocolate brown
  • Sunset is an interesting warm coppery gold
  • Midnight in Paris is a deep teal shimmer
  • Th(ink) is a violet navy blue metallic
  • (Plum) age is a bright orchid purple shimmer
  • Blacquer is a lush glossy deep black
For size reference next to my hand, you can see these are really cute mini-sized liners:

If you’re like me and won’t buy sets unless you like all the colors know that all the shades are available for individual purchase. Wearing colors like Sunset and Plumage are a bit of a stretch for me based on my natural instinct. I gravitate towards neutrals but every once in a while I have a makeover at a counter (like with NARS and Chanel) where they use some more wild colors as an accent on the eyes. I’m always surprised that it actually looks nice although I’ve never been able to bring myself to splurge on a full sized pencil I know I will only use occasionally. For me, this is the benefit of mini sets. This year has brought a lot of sets that have items I know I will actually be able to use up while still giving me mini bite-sized options that I can test out before seeing if I want to splurge on the full-sized versions.

I still haven’t quite figured out how to wear Sunset (any recs would be appreciated) but I’ve tested each of the other six shades and really like them.

The Marc Jacobs Beauty Sky-Liner set retails for $45 and is limited-edition. As of right now, the set is still available online at Marc Jacobs Beauty. It was available at Sephora but looks like it’s currently sold out online, if you are brave enough to go to the mall these days, you might want to check in store. Update 12/13 back in stock online at Sephora! After testing the colors, I can say I highly recommend it. They last all day long and didn’t budge at all from morning until late evening.

Did you buy any of the Marc Jacobs Beauty sets? Or the Black Friday sets? What did you think?

The Sky-Liner Petites set was provided courtesy of Marc Jacobs Beauty for review consideration.

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L’Occitane Holiday L’OcciBox

December 1, 2014

I have exciting news to share with you from L’Occitane. Today they are launching a new sampling program called L’OcciBox (pronounced “lox-ee-box”). There will be one new box launched each season this upcoming year with travel-sized samples of the brand’s classic items and newest offerings. Each box will retail at $15 in stores and online (limit one per customer, use code DISCOVER at checkout). It’s the perfect way to way to experience items from the line, find travel or purse-sized beauty items, or gift a box to a friend.

In addition, each quarter, L’Occitane will select a special partner to collaborate with for something extra in each box. The first partner is ELLE Magazine which chose a special illustrator to design special packaging for four classic hand creams, a nail file, all encased in a custom-made zip pouch. As a fun addition, 100 boxes selected at random will have a free year subscription to ELLE Magazine hidden inside as a bonus.

The boxes are compact but very sturdy and packaged beautifully. The first L’OcciBox has a festive print and a pink bow on top, it’s too cute for words:

The contents are valued at over $50. Here is a peek at what you get inside L’Occitane’s first L’OcciBox for the holiday season:
  1. Orange Zip ELLE Magazine Pouch
  2. ELLE + L’Occitane Nail File
  3. Cherry Blossom ELLE Hand Cream 0.3 .oz
  4. Shea ELLE Hand Cream 0.3 .oz
  5. Almond ELLE Hand Cream 0.3 .oz
  6. Verbena ELLE Hand Cream 0.3 .oz 
  7. Immortelle Sample Divine Cream 0.05 .oz x2 
  8. Shea Butter Body Milk 1.7 .oz 
  9. Almond Supple Skin Oil 0.5 fl.oz
  10. Precious Cleansing Foam 1.7 fl.oz 
  11. Arlésienne Hand Cream 0.3 .oz
The Elle Pouch and Hand Creams are adorable. On the back of the pouch it says “so cute” in ten different languages. Each of the hand creams are illustrated with French sayings and an English translation below as well.

One last shot of the entire box contents lined up side by side. It really surprised me how much was able to fit inside the tiny little container:
I discovered L’Occitane when I was 17 when I was gifted a small Shea Butter tin by a family friend to help my super dry hands and cuticles (I was part of the swim team and always in the pool and sun). She also brought me one of the small Shea Butter hand creams and ever since then I’ve been hooked. The formulas are gentle, non-irritating, effective and good for sensitive skin. I especially like that skin and body line’s have subtle scent options aren’t overpowering. Sampling programs didn’t exist like they do today, I am happy to see more brands offer sampler sets like these as an introduction to their brand. In case you’re unsure of how to pronounce the brand’s name, L’Occitane is pronounced “lox-ee-tan”.
The L’OcciBox is available for purchase at L’Occitane Boutiques nationwide right now (while supplies last). If you want to avoid the holiday crowds, you can also purchase online here (be sure to use code DISCOVER at checkout to have the price adjusted to $15). These are limited-edition with a limit of one per customer.


9:52 AM PST – the online glitch is fixed, you should be able to add the item to your cart, I confirmed with L’Occitane that this set is for both new and existing customers.
December 2nd 8:05 PM PST update – per a few reader requests, I’ve reached out to L’Occitane for some clarification on the L’OcciBox availability and in store purchasing. It looks like it sold out online, but per L’Occitane it hasn’t yet.
  1. The L’OcciBox will be back online on December 4th, there has been a temporary glitch on their website, check back on the 4th to purchase online, although they do want me to let you know quantities are limited. They’ve received an overwhelmingly positive response so far and it has been selling quickly. UPDATE 12/8 back in stock online!
  2. You should be able to purchase in store without any coupon or issues. I’ve been told my readers can simply give the same “DISCOVER” code to the store associate when you check out or even just mention the box, they apologize for any issues and inconvenience to those who were not able to purchase in store.
To stay up to date with the latest, be sure to follow L’Occitane on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.
This post was sponsored by L’Occitane, as always, all opinions are my own. For more info, please refer to my Disclosures page.
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