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Lipgloss

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NARS Lip Gloss Relaunch/Reformulation – Beauty Look Book Picks

July 7, 2014

NARS launched a new reformulation and packaging design for their Lip Gloss back in April. There are 30 shades that were released ($26 each for 0.18 fl oz/6 ml). I splurged on several shades over the past few months. The new NARS Lip Glosses have a similar design to the original tubes but now come with a modern updated look with a sleeker looking tube. The pigment of the new glosses is slightly smoother with better pigment. NARS also removed the plastic smell from the gloss (which didn’t bother me but the new ones smell better).
The colors I splurged on from Nordstrom (at one of the trend shows) and Sephora (because I love their Beauty Insider program) include:
  • Sweet Dreams is a stunning pale pink sparkle, the shimmer in the new one is more finely milled and less chunky (although the old one was one of my favorite glosses)
  • Istria is a pale sheer milky pink with a slight iridescent quality
  • Angelika is a hot cool pink with gold flecks
  • Risky Business is a lovely deep raspberry shimmer
  • Tasmania is a sheer cantaloupe peach color
  • Supervixen is a complex nude brown rose shimmer
  • Ophelia is a lighter watermelon pink shimmer
  • Sixties Fan is a sheer plum that applies like a wine/red color
The original packaging came in a clear but frosted tube at .28 oz, the new one comes with a completely clear tube at .18 oz. Differences in packaging and colors for a few of the shades shown below. The overall color is pretty similar for Angelika and Supervixen. There is a huge difference in pigment for Ophelia, the new version has much better pigment:

Close ups and swatches:

I’m in love with the new formula of the shimmers. The pigment is smoother and richer with really good coverage. The non-shimmers are hit and miss for my lips. I was head over heels in love with Istria and Tasmania in the tube but on the lips they are really sheer. They do perform well over lipsticks with similar tones though. It’s hard to pick a favorite, but so far my top three picks include Risky Business, Supervixen and Sweet Dreams. Lip swatches in this post.
NARS Lip Glosses come in 30 shades at $26 each. Available at all NARS locations, online at Nordstrom, Sephora and narscosmetics.com.

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Chanel Collection États Poétiques | Fall 2014 Picks

June 26, 2014
Chanel Collection États Poétiques for Fall 2014 has arrived online and in stores. The ordered the nail polishes online and then checked out the entire collection in stores last week. The items I picked out include:
I’ll be reviewing the items in the next few days, I have the nail polishes swatched already and will be uploading pics as soon as I can 🙂

Did you pick up anything from the Fall collection? What are your thoughts?
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Marc Jacobs Beauty Lust for Lacquer Lip Vinyl Sheer | Overprotected and Heart Shaped

June 22, 2014

I’ve added two more Marc Jacobs Lust for Lacquer Lip Vinyl Sheers to my collection in Heart Shaped and Overprotected ($28 each for 5.0 ml/0.15 fl oz). I’ve been playing with Kissability for several months and have liked it for the sheer lush glossy finish it gives. These Lip Vinyl Sheers have a soft vanilla scent with a cool minty feel. They have a plumping factor with a very slight tingle but they feel hydrating and refreshing on the lips. My lips normally do not do well with tingly-feeling glosses but the Marc Jacobs Lust for Lacquers are gentle enough to not irritate my super sensitive lips.

Overprotected is a pale milky cool sheer pink. It’s an extremely sheer formula and with my pigmented lips I found it settled into the crevices and emphasizes any lines if I didn’t use a lipliner or lipstick underneath. I find other pale pinks from Armani, Burberry and Chanel easier to wear alone since they  have smoother coverage for my pigmented lips. If your natural lip color is on the pale or pinker side this will work better for your lips. I do like this as a layering gloss over pale pink shimmers or nude lipsticks.

Heart Shaped is a coral pink shimmer. This one is also very sheer with a transparent shine. It gives more color on the lips compared to Overprotected but it’s still very sheer. The finish and pigment is similar to Kissability. I like this one better alone with just a bit of lipliner blended around outer edges of the lip.

These come with a flat flexible sponge tip applicator

Swatched:

Swatched on lips:

Swatch comparisons to:

Thumbs up to Marc Jacobs Heart Shaped for the color and shine. The shimmers have a good mix of coral and pink. I have mixed feelings on Overprotected because it’s a bit high maintenance for me (but it’s mainly because I have pigmented lips). I think based on what I’ve tried I prefer the shimmery colors from the Lust for Lacquer Lip Vinyl Sheer formula.

Marc Jacobs Lust for Lacquer Lip Vinyl Sheer glosses retail for $28 each. Available at Sephora and Marc Jacobs Beauty.
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Surratt Beauty Lip Lustre in Soigné, Lipsliques in Gamine and Hevyn (Barneys New York Exclusive)

June 17, 2014

Troy Surratt’s beauty line has been on my radar for quite some time. Every time a Barneys New York beauty catalog arrives in the mail, I make a reminder to myself to check out the line the next time I am at a Barneys store. If you’re like me and don’t have easy access to the line in person, you will find blog reviews and swatches immensely helpful. I’ve used the Surratt features on the Beauty Professor as a pre-shopping guide. On my last day trip to Beverly Hills I stopped by the Surratt Beauty counter at Barneys. I picked out three items to try as a first run with the line, all focused on lips:

The Lipsliques ($34 each for 0.05oz/1.6g) are a twist up lipstick in a skinny tube. These are sheerish but buildable in pigment. The formula is extremely hydrating with a slight glossy finish. The texture is slightly thick so it stays put on the lips. I was really impressed with the coverage, texture and lasting power. The two colors I picked are natural. Gamine is a peachy color with a slight hint of pink. Hevyn is a natural rose. Both look more like creams on the lips. They apply with a flawless finish. No lipliner needed. Also no tweaking required. The Lipsliques are extremely pricey for the size and amount of product provided in the tube (for reference, a YSL Rouge Volupte Shine is 0.15oz/4.5g priced at $35). That being said the formula is phenomenal and pretty close to perfect.

The Lip Lustres ($32 each for 0.2 oz/6g) are a high shine gloss with a thick finish. These come with a flexible flat sponge tip applicator. I tested a few at the counter and settled on Soigné a stunning rose pink sparkle. It has a warmish-toned base with a cool-toned shimmer making this unique and naturally flattering because it has both warm/cool colors. The lasting power is quite good although the texture is a bit tackier/stickier than most glosses I use (think similar to MAC Clear Lipglass).

One last snapshot of Gamine (peach lipstick), Hevyn (rose lipstick) and Soigné (gloss):

Based on my first visit to the Surratt counter at Barneys, it appears there is lots to fall in love with. The price points seem to be a bit high with their palette system but I’ve heard so many good things about the blushes and eyeshadows, I will be checking them out on my next visit. My personal favorite out of the three items I picked is Gamine. It brightens the face in a natural way.

I’m really pleased with the three lip items I purchased. The formula, coverage and texture are phenomenal and worth the high price point. The Surratt beauty line is available at Barneys New York in the US and now at Sephora. In the UK, the line is available at Liberty London. If you’ve checked out the line or tried anything I’d love to hear your thoughts. I’m always looking for recommendations.

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Estee Lauder Crystal Baby Collection | Nail Lacquer, Shimmer Lip Gloss and Illuminating Gelée Powder Blush

June 5, 2014

Estee Lauder has released a mini collection called Crystal Baby which I spotted at Nordstrom last week. I haven’t been able to find any information about this on the web so I’m not sure if it’s an exclusive to Nordstrom or will be released elsewhere. I picked up three items, but entire collection consists of:
I snapped a really quick photo with my iPhone at the counter:
The three items I purchased are the Nail Lacquer, Shimmer Lip Gloss and Illuminating Gelée Powder Blush. Swatches here and more details below:

The Crystal Baby Nail Lacquer is a soft shimmering nude pink that flashes a hint of blue, violet and pearl sparkles. On the nails it’s very neutral on my skin. With my current skintone it’s almost a nude because it matches my olive complexion. However I love how it gives a subtle polished look which I find office appropriate for conservative work places. I didn’t have time to test this long since I took it off after two days to try other products. In my experience Estee Lauder polishes are average for lasting power 3-4 days max.

Some comparisons to Chanel Rose Cache, Chanel Frisson, Guerlain Jardins de Bagatelle, Guerlain La Petite Robe Noir, OPI A Butterfly Moment (review here), Dior Incognito (gel) and Dior Frimas (review here, from holiday). I find OPI A Butterfly Moment to be pretty close in color. The difference is subtle but the Estee Lauder is a tad bit more pink.
Crystal Baby Lip Gloss is a warm frosted pink with lots of pearl. If you can tolerate the fig scent it’s a really pretty color. It has enough color to wear alone although I like to wear this on top of other lipsticks for added shine. It’s not sheer but not full coverage – I find it falls somewhere in between.

Crystal Baby Illuminating Gelée Powder Blush is a unique gel-powder. Similar in concept to prior limited-edition Gelées by Estee Lauder, this one has intense shimmer. On my skin it’s not frosty but I do need to apply with a light and gentle hand. It applies well with a loose fluffy brush all over the cheeks as a highlight or on the eyes. You can use the sponge it comes with but it makes the shimmer more intense. I found it did not emphasize pores with a light swipe, although if you swipe one swipe too many it will emphasize imperfections. It’s a lovely light opalescent pink. I recommend applying with a light hand.

Comparisons below to Armani Fluid Sheer #8 (reviewed here), MAC Fairly Precious (reviewed here), NARS Adelaide (review here, still available at NARS), Estee Lauder Tease (discontinued) and Bobbi Brown Pink Shimmer Brick (appears to have been discontinued).
I found this mini collection to be an unexpected surprise. I discovered it on route to the Chanel counter at my local Nordstrom. I’m glad the display caught my eye. All the items I picked out are lovely delicate feminine colors. Thumbs up on all items from me. According to the sales rep the entire collection is limited-edition. Available now at Nordstrom.

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Hourglass Extreme Sheen High Shine Lipgloss in Canvas and Ballet

May 13, 2014

Hourglass has released three new shades of Extreme Sheen High Shine Lipgloss ($28 each for 0.17 oz/5g) in Canvas (dusty nude pink), Ballet (bright pink) and Muse (bright coral). These are slightly different from the existing Extreme Sheens in that the new ones are high impact glosses with super rich pigment. Those who are looking for a glossy liquid lipstick will love these. Hourglass sent two for me to try in Canvas and Ballet. I’ve been wearing these for the past week and have been thoroughly impressed with the natural shine, rich pigment and long lasting power.

These come with a thin sponge tip applicator. They have a texture similar to that of a liquid lipstick but have a non-drying feel. The shine in the formula prevents these from looking flat like most other liquid lipsticks. They have a richer more pigmented look compared to Dior’s new Addict Fluid Sticks but are similar in concept.
Ballet is a rich pink that is very bright on my lips. It’s not quite neon so I can actually wear the color. It covers the lip entirely. Canvas is a nude pink rose also with full coverage. I like that it’s a natural color with rich pigment that doesn’t wash out the skin.

Swatches:

Comparison swatches show how pigmented and rich in color Canvas and Ballet are, left to right: Hourglass Femme Nude 6 (swatched here), NARS Riekugen Satin Lip Pencil. Tom Ford Tawny Pink Lipgloss, Dior Addict Fluid Stick in Kiss Me (on lips here), NARS Isola Bella Satin Lip Pencil, Dior Addict Fluid Stick in Rieuse (on lips here), Tom Ford Sugar Pink Lipgloss, Burberry Pink Sweet Pea Lip Gloss (swatched here), Chanel Rouge Allure Extrait de Gloss in Imaginaire

Bottom line love. Canvas is an easy one to fall in love with. Who doesn’t love a good nude pink that doesn’t wash them out? However in an effort to wear more color (per many reader requests), I’ve been pushing myself to go outside of my comfort zone and wear Ballet on multiple occasions. For me it’s definitely bright, but friends and family have all given positive feedback. Both shades will be available in stores starting June.

Available now at: Sephora and Hourglasscosmetics.com
Launching early June at: Barneys New York, Bergdorf Goodman, Net-A-Porter.com, and Space NK

This post contains press samples sent by Hourglass for review consideration. For more information please refer to my Disclosures.

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Chanel Reflets D’Été de Chanel Lèvres Scintillantes Glossimers | Glaze, Hello, Sexy, Happy and Sunny

May 6, 2014

The summer Reflets D’Été de Chanel collection features five Lèvres Scintillantes Glossimers ($29.50 each). Four shades are new in Hello 184 (limited-edition), Sexy 185, Happy 186 and Sunny 188, one shade Glaze 03 is a repromote. All are beautiful bright summery colors but extremely sheer. The shades for summer are all similar in concept to Glaze they are basically clear on my lips with a very slight tint of color. I don’t think anyone needs all of these, I certainly did not, but the bright cheerful names and color display got me. If you’re a frequent gloss user or die-hard Chanel fan you might really fall in love with each of these.
Glaze 03 is a light cool pink, Hello 184 is a transparent warm watermelon pink, Sexy 185 is a bright fuchsia pink, Happy 186 is a bright coral watermelon red, Sunny 188 is a sheer orange. All these shades only have numbers on the bottom labels.

Straight from the tube you can see the tinted color:

Blended they all pretty much turn clearish:

I did some lip swatches although they all pretty much looked the same. I have lips that tend to turn really pink or red if I rub them with clearish glosses. I was only able to swatch three before my lips started to turn a bright cherry red. Glaze, Sunny and Happy below, for skin tone reference I am wearing Tom Ford Foundation Stick in Bisque 04 (review/swatches here):

If you’re looking for a nice sheer gloss that isn’t too sticky, lasts relatively long on lips and love Chanel then you’ll find at least one that you like from this collection. Since I already own a lot of lip glosses (both sheer and pigmented) these seemed redundant to add to my collection, but I caved anyways at the counter. These are nice to layer over lipsticks without changing color too much and less boring than a traditional clear gloss. I have used up entire tubes of Glaze as I’ve found it to be an easy swipe-and-go no-fuss kind of gloss on lazy makeup days. These will add a nice sheen without drying out the lips.
On Chanel.com, all are listed as permanent except for Hello 184. The entire summer collection should be at your local counters now in the US. The glossers are also online now for $29.50 each at Nordstrom, Saks, Neiman Marcus and Chanel.com.
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