Browsing Tag

Lip Treatment

Uncategorized

Bite Beauty Smashed Agave Lip Mask

January 12, 2015

Bite Beauty has a new addition to their line called Smashed Agave Lip Mask ($26 for .52 oz / 15 g) which is a sheer lush berry red. This comes in a squeeze tube and in my experience I’ve found the Agave Lip Masks really easy to use, however I found that packaging this round required less squeezing to dispense product compared to the Champagne Agave Lip Mask (reviewed last August). Smashed is a sheer lush cherry red. It’s ultra hydrating and plumps the lips. There is enough color to provide a sheer tint of color which makes the lips look healthy with a slightly flushed look – but I found it very sheer.

The formula is similar to Champagne in the sense that it on the thick side but feels very smooth on the lips. There is a slight vanilla almond-like fragrance to the product. I know some of you could not stand the way Champagne tasted when some transferred from the lips. I didn’t have issues, but the fragrance and taste of Smashed has improved in my opinion. With these lip masks I have mixed feelings. The formula is really good in terms of how they plump the lips naturally without irritating. They also work wonders for dry or chapped lips. It’s like wearing a soft cushion of moisturizer on the lips, the Agave Lip Masks feel really nice and aren’t sticky.

The pigment and colors are a bit disappointing in terms of how sheer they are on the lips. If you look at the shades in the tube or swatched on the hand they are gorgeous! I understand these are primarily lip treatments with a tint added for fun. I do wish the pigment was richer or more opaque on the lips because the colors look really pretty. The second miss for me is the delicate nature of the packaging. In my last post several of you mentioned that you wanted tips on how to keep the tubes looking fresh and in tact. The pliable nature of the tube makes these easy to use but you can’t just throw these in the makeup bag and hope they retain their shape. I’ve primarily kept mine at home or in a flat cosmetic bag so that it doesn’t get smashed by other products.

One more positive notes include the fact that the lip product doesn’t transfer or bleed. On me it lasted for four hours and through a cup of coffee (although not through snacks). For me it’s important that a lip balm does not slide or feel like it’s sliding off the lips onto the face. This one adheres well to the lips and I like that it stays put.

Swatches:

Some comparison swatches:

By Terry Baume de Rose Cherry Bomb (mini wand version, review here)

If you want more color, I highly recommend checking out Fresh Sugar Cherry or By Terry Cherry Bomb. Overall I give the Bite Smashed Agave Lip Mask a thumbs up for formula but a meh/iffy review on the color. If you don’t mind sheer colors and want a very slight flushed tint, it is a really good one. I don’t always mind sheer lip items but for this one I think I could give it a 100% glowing review if it had more color. Long-time Beauty Look Book readers know I’m a fan of super natural lips, but even with this one, I find myself craving more pigment and color. I do recommend you check out the 150+ customer reviews on Sephora.com. I usually find them helpful.

Bite Beauty Smashed Agave Lip Mask retails for $26. It’s currently an online exclusive at Sephora.com. 

16 Comments
By Terry

By Terry Baume de Rose Set (Limited-Edition)

December 15, 2014

By Terry has released a limited-edition Baume de Rose Collection Set ($89 for 5 mini tinted rose balms, each 2.3 g/0.08 oz, made in France). This is a luxurious beauty set cased in a small pink box and ribbon. There are five mini lip balms in a tube format. One is of the items is the classic Baume de Rose which is clear with a slightly milky pink tint. The others include some Baume De Rose Nutri-Couleurs in wand format including Rosy Babe 1, Cherry Bomb 3, Fig Fiction 5 and Toffee Cream 6. Even though I already own the full size versions of three of the five items, I was intrigued by the compact packaging and wand format of the rose balms and ordered a set from Net-A-Porter.

The balms in this Baume de Rose Set come with angled and beveled sponge tip applicators. The little balms are miniature in size making them perfect to store in a small clutch or purse. These are tinted balms so it’s only natural to expect them to be on the sheer side. There is still quite a bit of pigment in them so they do show up on my lips. The texture is medium to thick. They feel like a balm on the lips and go on smoothly, but they don’t slide off like some lip balms do. The slightly thick texture helps them stay on the lips – however since these are balms, these won’t stay put on your lips all day long.

The colors in the Baume de Rose Set this year:

  • Baume de Rose is a sheer milky pink that goes on clear
  • Rosy Babe 1 is a baby pink cream
  • Cherry Bomb 3 is a luscious pink red
  • Fig Fiction 5 is a sheer purple plum
  • Toffee Cream 6 is a warm nude pink tan

With any flash or sunlight, the balms reflect their naturally glossy sheen. Once applied, they give the lips the most luscious natural sheen and they feel quite amazing on the lips. 

Without flash:

I’ve reviewed the full sizes of the Baume de Rose, Mandarina Pulp, Boom Berry/Fig Fiction/Toffee Cream before on the blog. The colors in the Holiday Baume de Rose Set are identical in undertone to the full size in pots, however I found the colors in this set to be a bit sheerer in pigment and slightly thinner in texture. I suspect a part of the sheerness is due to the applicator. The sponge picks up less color compared to a lip brush that I dip into the pots. I’ll show swatches of the set vs individual pots below.

First, some packaging comparisons. The full size Baume de Rose Gloss ($53 for 7 ml/0.23 fl oz) versus the minis ($89 for the set divided by 5 equals $17.80 per balm for 2.3 g/ 0.08 oz):

The full size Baume de Rose Nutri-Couleur ($56 for 7 g/0.24 oz) pots versus the minis ($89 for the set divided by 5 equals $17.80 per balm for 2.3 g/ 0.08 oz):

Comparison swatches:

Lip swatches:

I’ve been a huge fan of By Terry Baume de Rose (for the original, gloss and tinted pots). They are extremely pricey so I would call these a super luxurious treat versus a must-have. There are quite a few other lip balms I adore that are more affordable but none of them compare to the By Terry. If you’ve tried a Baume de Rose you know that these are luscious balms that have a beautiful rich but soothing rose scent. The formula is creamy and smooth making it feel like your lips are getting a spa treatment when you apply it.

The Baume de Rose Set is also a luxurious splurge. If you have been wanting to try the tinted Baume de Rose colors but don’t want to spend $56 on a full size pot, this is a much more affordable way to try multiple colors. My favorite color out of all the tinted options is still Fig Fiction (it’s the one of the prettiest plum lip colors I’ve tried).

I give this a thumbs up although I have a slight preference for the full size pots. It is a really good intro set to By Terry’s Baume de Rose, but will also make a really beautiful gift this holiday for someone special.

If you’re looking for this set, I recommend purchasing it soon – it has already sold out on Space NK and Barneys (although you might still be able to find them in stores). Online you can find this set at Net-A-Porter and Beauty.com, while supplies last (it is limited-edition).

14 Comments
Uncategorized

Lip Primer and Lip Balms In Rotation

November 13, 2014

This post is inspired by and dedicated to my reader Gabby who sent me an e-mail last month asking if I could recommend a good lip primer for underneath lipstick. She liked the Jo Malone Vitamin E Treatment I featured a while ago, but found it didn’t do much for priming the lips for lipstick. It occurred to me that there are different kinds of “lip prep.” One kind of lip prep is to prime the lips for lipstick, the other kind is more of a skincare/moisture treatment.

Above shown:

I have sensitive lips that are prone to drying and peeling with many brands of lipstick (like MAC and some Chanel formulas). I use lip balm liberally on the low key makeup days, when I’m running errands, or in the evening after I’ve taken my makeup off. In the mornings if my lips feel dry I will prepare the lips with lip balm after washing the face and let it sit a few minutes while I do the rest of my makeup (for me lips are always last).

I like to use lip balm for lip prep in the morning, but Gabby is right, not all lip treatments are necessarily good for priming the lips for lipstick wear. A long time ago, MAC used to make a clear lipstick product called Lipmix (now they have the squeeze tube versions) that I used for a lip primer. They discontinued it but released their MAC Prep + Prime Lip ($16) which is a clear primer in a twist up tube. I like that this is color-free and really helps to smooth out the surface of the lip. It has a moisturizing feel but dries to a slightly tacky-matte feel to help lipstick and lipliner glide on easily. It also helps lip products stay put. Some lipsticks and glosses have a high shine finish or a glossy sheer formula which have a lot of slip. Those won’t hold up much longer than usual with the MAC Prep + Prime, but for your regular lipstick formula and gloss, the Prep + Prime Lip helps extend the wear of my lip products and also helps it glide on better.

For lip balms, I have a lot in rotation. In this post I’ll focus mainly on the clear treatments I’ve been loving. I prefer lip balms in stick or squeeze tube format because I find them easier to apply, but the only stick lip treatment I use these days is the Caudalie Lip Conditioner ($12). One tube lasted me quite a long time, even with regular use. It’s smooth and lightweight without having that waxy feel. It has a soft lightweight citrus scent which is really nice. It soothes dry lips instantly. (Also in this Hand + Lip Duo Set.) Right now I’m on my second tube.

I’ve been a long-time Chanel fan, but haven’t always been a fan of their lip balms. The Hydra Beauty Nourishing Lip Balm ($50) is a newer one that they released (to replace their Hydramax). It has a really smooth and slightly hard texture. It’s smooth, lightweight and moisturizing. It has a soft hint of the fragrance used in the Hydra Beauty line. I like that it comes in a sleek-looking pot. It feels nice and smooth on the lips, but for me others are more hydrating. This is something I will use this to the end, but I probably will not repurchase. It’s a good one if you have normal lips. If you have lips prone to drying with lipstick use, you may need something richer.

By Terry Baume de Rose ($60) is a classic. It’s the most expensive lip balm I own, but it’s at the top of my list of favorites. It’s soothing, hydrating and feels super luxurious. It has a soft rose scent with a slightly pink tint, but it goes on the lips clear. One pot is very large and will last you a very long time. (You can see reviews of the tinted versions here and here.)

Malin + Goetz Mojito Lip Balm ($12) is #2 on my favorites list. It comes in a little squeeze tube and has a clear gel-like formula. It glides on easily, doesn’t slip, moisturizes and feels amazing. There is a regular version as well which I also like. I prefer the Mojito one because it has a fun soft sweet lime scent without being too citrusy.

Last but not least is the Tatcha Camellia Moisturizing Lip Balm ($36, also in some holiday gift sets). It’s a clear jelly-like solid with a thin layer of crushed 24K gold leaf on top. If you’ve ordered anything from Tatcha you know how beautiful the packaging and presentation of all their products are (even their shipping boxes are packaged and sealed beautifully). I’ve been using the Tatcha Lip Balm regularly. It has a lightweight refreshing scent unlike any other lip balm. The gold flakes break off the surface and add a hint of gold shimmer to the lips, but it’s only on the surface. Some of mine transferred to the lid and I haven’t removed it. This one feels very nice on the lips and provides instant moisture and relief to dry lips. It’s a huge thumbs up from me. (Original review here.)

If I were to narrow down my top picks, the MAC Prep + Prime Lip is a definite must for me to prepare the lips for lipstick. For lip treatments, it’s a three-way tie between By Terry, Malin + Goetz and Tatcha.

I hope you found this roundup helpful! I would love to hear about your favorite lip treatments, especially with the winter season approaching with dry weather, I think most of us will be in need of an extra moisture boost.

34 Comments
Uncategorized

Rouge Dior Baume | Kew Gardens 258, Spring 468, Milly 640 and Escapade 740

October 7, 2014

Dior has released 15 shades of their new Rouge Dior Baume Lip Treatment ($35 each for 3.2g/0.11 oz). They are currently exclusive to Saks, Sephora and Dior.com but will available at all retailers later in November. The Rouge Dior Baumes have medium-pigment like a natural lipstick but with a moisturizing formula. The ones I swatched in store seemed to have sheer to medium coverage on the hands but applied better on the lips. There is a diverse range of pinks, peaches, reds and plums. I picked out four of the neutral shades from Saks in Kew Gardens 258, Spring 468, Milly 640 and Escapade 740.

Dior describes these as being “created for a modern woman who loves the intense pigment of a traditional lipstick as well as the ease and moisturizing properties of a balm.” They are indeed a blend of the two. I found these to have less shine and gloss compared to other balm-like or sheer lipsticks (such as Chanel Rouge Coco Shine, YSL Rouge Volupte Shine, Tom Ford Lip Color Shine). They do have a dewy semi-glossy finish, but it gives more of a natural look compared to the glossy finish many other lipsticks do.

Kew Gardens is a sheer sparkling transparent peach shimmer. Spring is a sheer but brighter peach. Milly is a neutral beige pink with a shimmery sheen. Escapade is the perfect neutral pink-brown. I’m in the middle of a move so I have most of my things packed in boxes, I don’t have easy access to other lipsticks to compare but I do feel that Milly is a more wearable version of Tom Ford Bare and Escapade is a warmer version of Tom Ford Nubile. Spring reminds me of Insidious without the shimmer and with a bit more pink.

I initially thought Milly would be too pale for my lips and skin tone based on the counter rep’s advice. Many thanks to one of my readers Jo who suggested I give it a try anyways stating it didn’t wash her out. She was right. It’s a lovely pale beige that gives perfect nude pink lips with a slight shimmery silver sheen but doesn’t wash out your face. Milly has enough color in the base to give the lip balm some life.

As a lover of natural-looking lip products, I’m smitten with these. I do wish I had picked up a pink or plum shade instead of the two peaches for variation, but I tend to gravitate towards peaches anyways. I love that these have no detectable scent (good for my sensitive nose). They do have a moisturizing feel on my lips, but I didn’t really notice extra hydration like I do with lip balms like By Terry or Malin + Goetz. I definitely think they are worth a look, especially if you want something less glossy compared to Chanel Rouge Coco Shines and something less pricey compared to Tom Ford Lip Color Shines.

The new Rouge Dior Baumes currently retail for $35 each. They are exclusive to Saks, Sephora and Dior.com right now, but will available at other retailers later this season in November.

12 Comments
Uncategorized

By Terry Baume de Rose Nutri-Couleur in Bloom Berry 4, Fig Fiction 5 and Toffee Cream 6

September 10, 2014
By Terry has released six tinted versions of her classic lip balm in the Baume de Rose Nutri-Couleur ($56 for 7 g/0.24 oz, made in France). I’ve been a huge fan of the regular Baume de Rose and fell in love with the tinted shade in Mandarina Pulp #2. Her lip balm is quite expensive making these a luxurious splurge. It took me several years before I was willing to spend the money one and it was a big ouch to my wallet, but I have been really happy with the formula and have no regrets. The By Terry Baume de Rose (both regular and tinted versions) are super hydrating with a soft rose scent. It’s noticeable but not overpowering. I have sensitive lips that are prone to drying out and peeling with many lipstick brands. In my years of testing lip balms, I’ve found several that I’ve fallen in love with and By Terry has made to my favorites list.

Today I have three of the tinted shades to share with you. I bought these in two moments of weakness while at Barneys on one visit and at Space NK on another. I had a gift card and points burning a hole in my pocket and with one swipe of these I fell in love with Bloom Berry 4, Fig Fiction 5 and Toffee Cream 6 which are more on the grown-up / neutral side versus the brighter Rosy Babe 1, Mandarina Pulp 2 and Cherry Bomb 3 (swatched here). While all the shades are really quite lovely, I think the  colors 4, 5 and 6 are more classic colors that are easier to pull off.
  • Berry Bloom 4 is a lush deep but soft red (versus Cherry Bomb which is almost fuchsia)
  • Fig Fiction 5 is a blue-toned plum, it looks purple in the tube but the sheerness makes it more forgiving on the lips giving a really nice plum tint
  • Toffee Cream 6 is a nude caramel pink shade, on me it matches my natural lip color pretty closely so it might look like it’s clear in the lip swatch below, but it is actually quite pigmented and covers the lip entirely

All three shades have sheer to medium coverage in terms of pigment. They are lip balms so they are on the natural side and won’t give you a full opaque lip look. I did find that they had more coverage than YSL Rouge Volupte Shines or Sheer Candy Lipsticks. I would say coverage of the By Terry tinted lip balms is similar to some of the Chanel Rouge Coco Shines, perhaps a tiny bit more color.

Swatches, with flash:

No flash:

Close ups of each shade with lip swatches, I applied these with a lip brush that was on the end of one of my Chanel lipliners for a more precise application. First up is Berry Bloom #4:

Next is Fig Fiction #5:

Last is Toffee Cream #6:

If you’ve been eyeing the Baume de Rose for a while and are wondering whether to purchase the clear version or a tinted one, I would say go for a tinted one unless you plan on wearing it as a night treatment. I will sometimes put lip balm on my lips before I go to sleep but I don’t like having a lot of product on my face at night so I tend to skip it. Both perform equally well in terms of how they make my lips feel really soft and prevent dryness. The regular Baume de Rose is more expensive at $60 but it does have more product with 10 g versus the Tinted version which is $56 for 6 g. (Repost from my Mandarina Pulp review.)
One last view of all three shades featured today:

If it weren’t for my gift cards and points that I had saved up, I would not have splurged on all three shades, I probably would have only purchased either Bloom Berry or Toffee Cream. At $56 each these are insanely expensive but I haven’t met a single person yet who didn’t love these once they bought one (or were gifted one). With so many good lip balms on the market (that are much more affordable), I can’t say the By Terry Baume de Rose is a must-have. There are plenty of other lip products that will work to keep lips smooth and moisturized.

That being said these do make an ultra luxurious treat and I think they feel marvelous on the lips. The pots are really big and a little goes a long way so they will last you a very long time (versus small squeeze lip balm tubes which I have sometimes finished up in a couple month’s time). By Terry’s new tinted versions are well designed. The colors have this basic but classic simplicity that enhances the lips in a natural way.

I do think these are something you should be able to test and see in person before you splurge, but if you’re like me, the By Terry line isn’t easily accessible. I hope these swatches help you if you’re shopping these sight unseen.

The By Terry Baume de Rose Nutri-Couleur lip balms come in 6 shades for now and retail at $56 each. You can find them in store and online at Space NK and Barneys New York.

P.S. There are two gift events going on that I think are worth splurging on, especially if you have a wish list going and want to take advantage of a good gift with purchase offer:

  1. Space NK has their amazing Autumn Edit gift bag event for one-day on September 10th in stores and online (details here). You might want to look into signing up for their N.Dulge Points program if you shop there occasionally.
  2. Barneys New York also has their Beauty Bag event starting the same day Wed Sept 10th through Sunday the 14th or while gift supplies last. Details up on Barneys.com now!
26 Comments
Uncategorized

Bite Beauty Agave Lip Mask in Champagne

August 11, 2014

Bite Beauty has released a new shimmery rose gold Agave Lip Mask in Champagne ($26 for .52 oz/15 g). This is the first item from Bite Beauty that I’ve tried although I’ve passed by the display units at Sephora numerous times. The Champagne shade is a sheer golden color with a hint of rose tones and reports indicate it has the same effect and benefits as their best-selling original Agave Lip Mask which is clear. I haven’t tried both so I can’t compare, but I really love the texture of the Champagne version.

The Agave Lip Mask is a hydrating lip treatment. I’ve worn this during the day, for me it seems a bit too thick to wear overnight while sleeping. It really hydrates the lips well and helps mine recover after lip swatching and testing (the wiping and reapplying of lipsticks sometimes dries out my lips).

Pouch by One Truffle (review soon)
It’s thick but very smooth and adheres well to the lips. I love the emollient quality in lip balms but am really particular with texture, feel and scent – for me I need one that adheres well to the lips so they don’t feel like they are sliding off. The Agave Lip Mask fits the bill on all fronts. It’s hydrating, sticks to my lips but isn’t too tacky, and it has an delicious soft cookie-like vanilla scent. The scent does fade after a few minutes and I love that it’s not overpowering.

Champagne swatches like a gorgeous gold shimmer similar to MAC Nymphette Lipglass, but it sheers out on the lips to an almost clear tint. The Bite Agave Lip Mask gives the lips a healthy shine but virtually no color.

On my lips it’s practically clear:

As a lip treatment I love it. The formula is really good and hydrating. It comes in a metal squeeze tube which dispenses product easily without getting messy. Some metal lip tubes I’ve tried end up dispensing too much product once squeezed but this one is well designed so there’s no excess.

Ingredients:

Update: a few color comparisons in case you like the color of Bite’s Champagne but want more color in a gloss, left to right: NARS Orgasm (new formula), Chanel Twinkle Glossimer, MAC Nymphette, Bite Champagne, Chanel Bon Bon 73 Glossimer (discontinued):

Bottom line love. The Agave Lip Mask in Champagne is currently exclusive to Sephora where I ordered mine. I’ll have a roundup of lip balms I have in rotation in the next couple weeks but this one has made it into my top 5 picks.
Have you tried anything from Bite Beauty? Do you have the Original or Champagne Agave Lip Masks? What did you think?
26 Comments
Uncategorized

By Terry Baume de Rose Nutri-Couleur Mandarina Pulp #2

August 4, 2014
By Terry’s famous rose balm now comes in six different tinted versions of the Baume de Rose Nutri-Couleur ($56 for 7 g/0.24 oz, made in France). Right now the availability of colors is a bit limited, but they should all be at By Terry counters soon. Three of the shades in Rosy Babe 1 (a baby pink), Mandarina Pulp 2 (fresh mandarin coral) and Cherry Bomb 3 (a lush cherry red pink) are available now exclusively at Space NK. The other three Bloom Berry 4, Fig Fiction 5 and Toffee Cream 6 are currently available at Barneys.

I checked the first three shades out last week at Space NK with the Beauty Professor. We’re both fans of the regular Baume de Rose (my thoughts here and here). Below are the three shades we saw in store at Space NK in Bloomingdales (taken with an iPhone in store with bad lighting):

For the tinted colors, I picked out Mandarina Pulp 2. It’s a lush orangey shade that gives a rich but soft tint of coral. There’s no shimmer in it but it has a slightly transparent quality and a shine that gives the lips a luscious glow. 

Here it is swatched on me:

The tinted Baume de Rose Nutri-Couleurs are $56 and smaller in size at 7g compared to the regular Baume de Rose priced at $60 for 10g. The circumference of each tube is the same but the tinted ones are a bit shorter. In case you haven’t seen my previous review on the original Baume de Rose, it’s one of my favorite lip balms. It took me several years of thinking about it before I decided to splurge on a $60 lip balm. My lips are normal but sensitive and prone to drying out with certain lipsticks (like MAC). It usually takes a couple days for my lips to restore to the normal state (for some reason I still can’t resist MAC lipsticks). With the By Terry Baume de Rose, if I use this at night my lips don’t peel the next day. It’s rich, lush and I find it amazing for my lips although it’s definitely not a must-have. There are other lip balms that work well without the high price tag, but I have no regrets and love it. The tub is quite large and it will last a long time. My other favorite lip balm picks reviewed here and here.

The By Terry Baume de Rose Nutri-Couleur vs regular Baume de Rose:

Some other coral lip shades to compare:

A definite splurge but the Baume de Rose Nutri-Couleurs give a luscious color with a super hydrating feel. You can find three of By Terry Baume de Rose Nutri-Couleurs now at Space NK. Some are on pre-order at Barneys.
28 Comments