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Lipgloss

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Dior Addict Fluid Sticks Swatched | 219 Whisper Beige, 239 Frisson, 269 Tiny Pink, 373 Rieuse and 389 Kiss Me

April 22, 2014

Here are lip swatches of the new Dior Addict Fluid Sticks ($35 each) I have in 219 Whisper Beige, 239 Frisson, 269 Tiny Pink, 373 Rieuse and 389 Kiss Me. There are 17 shades total but not all stores and counters will receive all the colors – you may have to do a bit of hunting to find the colors. 269 Tiny Pink is exclusive to Dior.com and I was told it will be available at Sephora (but I don’t see it online yet).

I have a couple application photos to show you how pigmented these are. They look quite intense when you swatch them but they blend out really nicely on the lips. The lighter shades need a bit of extra blending otherwise some of my lip creases show through. You can apply with a brush or the sponge tip – the result/effect will ultimately be the same. If you use a liner you may want to apply/blend with a separate lip brush so your lipliner color doesn’t mix in with the gloss color.

I like how they finally added the product name on the labels, it’s in really tiny print under the numbers but at least they are now on the tubes:

Close up of the sponge tip:

Swatches without any flash, you can see how these have a glossy finish:

Lip swatches show these are full coverage no-shimmer lip colors. Whisper Beige and Frisson are pretty close on the lips, Frisson is a bit brighter and more peach but they look really close on my lips.

Several of you have asked how the Addict Fluid Sticks compare to the Addict Glosses. My thoughts below:
  • Addict Fluid Sticks have more pigment, more coverage, are more opaque and none of the colors have any shimmer. These are $35 for for 5.5 ml/0.18 fl oz. These come with a sponge tip applicator.
  • Addict Glosses have a wider range of finishes (some non-shimmer, some glittery, some shimmery) but in general they have a more glossy finish with a transparent quality. These are $29.50 for 6.5 ml/0.21 fl oz. These come with a brush tip.

Dior Addict Gloss swatch 576 Bed of Roses:

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One last pic of the Addict Fluid Sticks:

Overall very impressed with these. The colors are rich and give lips full coverage color with a nice shine. Lasting power is in between that of a lipstick and gloss. There is a natural sheen to these but the fluid texture has a bit of a dry down after application. It’s slightly sticky/tacky/thick but stays put for several hours without budging. They feel extremely lush on the lips and make them look full. I am dying to try a few of the plum colors but want to wait until they arrive in stores.
I give these a thumbs up. The lighter colors aren’t too pale and will suit those who love neutrals. There is a good mix of medium-brights that aren’t too bright as well for those who want color but don’t want something too loud. Then there are quite a few brighter more dramatic colors for those who live for colorful lips. All classic shades with a modern look.
If I had tested these in person first, I would have skipped Whisper Beige since Frisson is very similar on my lips. I prefer the peachy color but if you want a beige that won’t make you look like a corpse Whisper Beige is very nice. I was worried Kiss Me might be too cool-toned but it has enough color which prevents it from looking too mod/white on my olive skin.

Dior Addict Fluid Sticks retail for $35 each. In stores now at Macy’s (they have an exclusive until the end of the month). Online now at Sephora (select colors), NordstromMacy’s and Dior.com.

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Dior Addict Fluid Sticks – A First Look

April 22, 2014

Dior Addict Fluid Sticks ($35 for 5.5 ml/0.18 fl oz) are the latest in lip innovations. They are a hybrid gloss, lipstick and stain all in one. They have a fluid texture that is extremely pigmented but blends out perfectly to a sheerer but full coverage finish. The Fluid Sticks come with a sponge tip applicator that has a unique design – I found it shaped perfectly to get a precise application to the lips. The formula is a high-impact type of lip color. They cover the lip entirely but aren’t completely full-coverage. There is a soft fragrance to it but it fades quickly. I found these to have a slightly plumping feel – but it did not irritate my lips or and I didn’t feel any reaction (many lip-plumping products cause a numbing reaction for me).

These are currently only available in stores at Macy’s and the Dior Las Vegas Palazzo Boutique. Other stores should have these in the US starting May. Online now at Sephora, Macy’s, Nordstrom, Dior.com.

I ordered a few from the Dior Boutique and online, left to right: 219 Whisper Beige, 239 Frisson, 269 Tiny Pink (only on Dior.com and reported to be a Sephora exclusive), 373 Rieuse and 389 Kiss Me.

Swatches on the arm for now, I’ll post lip swatches in a separate post shortly.

  • 219 Whisper Beige is a nude beige but not too nude
  • 239 Frisson is a limited-edition color according to the Dior boutique, it’s a soft peach
  • 269 Tiny Pink is exclusive to Dior.com and will also be a Sephora exclusive, it’s a warm pink
  • 373 Rieuse is a healthy warm pink
  • 389 Kiss Me is a cool-toned pink

The sponge tips are not your typical sponge tip for lip glosses. It has a beveled tip which makes application easier. They blend the color out on the lips really well. No lip liner or tweaking needed.

The packaging is similar to that of the Addict Lip Glosses. The difference is in the finish and brush tips. Addict Fluid Sticks pack in more punch and pigment while Addict Glosses have a higher shine and sheerer finish.

Swatches below to show the difference in pigment and shine:

Dior has hit it big with these new lipstick/gloss Addict Fluid Sticks. At $35 each they are a bit pricey but you won’t be disappointed with the formula. They blend out on the lips in an amazing way with a soft healthy shine. There is a wide range of color options – enough to suit everyone’s tastes. I  ordered sight unseen and gravitated towards the lighter shades. Bubbly Michelle has swatches of all the colors which I found very helpful.

These will be at all Dior counters soon. Right now online at Sephora, Macy’sNordstromDior.com.

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Marc Jacobs Beauty | Lola, Role Play and Kissability

March 31, 2014
Marc Jacobs Beauty items from Sephora, accessories Marc Jacobs Sharpies, Heart Notebook and Postcard from Bookmarc located in Los Angeles on Melrose

I’ve recently fallen in love with a few more items from Marc Jacobs Beauty. I’ve been a huge fan of the Hi-Shine Nail Lacquers which I really like for the packaging, color pigment, and price. Today I am featuring three new items I’ve discovered.

  • Lola Hi-Shine Nail Lacquer ($18 for 13 ml) is a flawless bright jelly red, it’s a one-coat wonder nail color that covers the entire nail with one swipe, I’ve only tested for a couple days now but in my experience, Marc Jacobs nail lacquers have decent lasting power with no tip wear or chipping through day 5 or 6 (I use with Deborah Lippmann Rehydrating Base Coat and Dior Gel Top Coat).
  • Role Play Lip Gel ($30 for 3.6g) is my new holy grail nude pink lip, it’s an interesting formula, not quite like a traditional lipstick, it is a gel lipstick with full coverage and a cushy moisturizing feel. This covered my lip entirely, it’s like a lighter modern version of what I wanted MAC Twig/Spirit to be, it’s a neutral rose pink nude that isn’t too light and not too dark.
  • Kissability Lust for Lacquer ($28 for 5 ml) is a sheer rose with gold and pink shimmers. It comes with a sponge tip applicator. The formula is very sheer so I recommend using this on top of lipsticks for more color, it has a vanilla scent with a cool tingley finish (thank goodness it did not irritate or numb my super sensitive lips).

More photos and swatches:

Lola featured on the hands holding some fun Marc Jacobs sharpies:

Role Play lip gel and lip swatch:

I’m overall impressed with the lip products. I don’t know why it took me so long to try them. I am already looking to try more of the lipsticks. Now that Marc Jacobs Beauty has been out on the market for a while, I’d love to hear what your thoughts are. What have you fallen in love with? What would you recommend passing on? Yays or nays are all welcome.
You can find Marc Jacobs Beauty at select Marc Jacobs boutiques and at all Sephora stores. Online at Sephora.com and MarcJacobsBeauty.com.

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Chanel Aqualumière Glosses | Eau de Rose 86, Rosace 87, Pink Pivoine 88, Baie Rose 89

March 1, 2014

Chanel has brought us four new shades of Aqualumière Gloss in the Jardin de Camélias collection ($29.50 each, 6 ml/0.20 fl oz). Eau de Rose 86 is a pale silvery pink, Rosace 87 is a shimmery light peachy pink, Pink Pivoine 88 is a sheer coral pink and Baie Rose 89 is a cool pink. All the shades are extremely sheer and offer a slight hint of shimmer or tint to the lips. They have a high shine smooth glossy finish.

Lip swatches, for skintone reference, I currently use Tom Ford Foundation Sticks in 04 Bisque and 05 Natural mixed with Dolce & Gabbana Powder Foundation in Warm 100 on top:

Comparison swatches below to: Chanel Colbri Aqualumiere Gloss (discontinued), MAC Nectarsweet Cremesheen Glass, Chanel Bliss Glossimer, Dior Bed of Roses Addict, Bobbi Brown Pink Lily (discontinued), Tom Ford Sugar Pink Gloss, Chanel Imaginaire Rouge Allure Extrait de Gloss (discontinued). 

Overall beautiful fresh colors that are lovely for spring. I wouldn’t call them must-haves since there is very little color payoff. These are extremely sheer glosses but that is expected with the Aqualumiere Gloss formula.
Eau de Rose 86, Rosace 87, Pink Pivoine 88, Baie Rose 89 are currently exclusive to Chanel.com. Will you be purchasing any of these? If you already ordered, what did you think?

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Chanel Jardin de Camélias – Chanel.com Exclusive

February 26, 2014
Chanel just launched the Jardin de Camélias Collection exclusively online at Chanel.com in the US. I ordered the following items:
  • Sakura #87 Blush ($43, Euro/Asia baked version)
  • Jardin de Camélias Illuminating Powder ($70)
  • four Aqualumière Glosses ($29.50 each) in Eau Rose #86, Rosace #87, Pink Pivoine #88, Baie Rose #89
  • two Rouge Allures ($34 each) in Fleurie #139 and Charmeuse #142
I’ll be uploading more detailed reviews as quickly as I can. I swatched and photographed everything over the weekend but need to do a bit more testing. For now here are swatches for your reference. Quick note on the glosses, they all apply very sheer on the lips like most Chanel glosses do.

Without flash:

With flash:

You can find the collection now online at Chanel.com.

Stay tuned for the swatches and photos of the Chanel Sakura Blush and Jardin de Camélias Highlighter next. I’ll be adding a few finishing touches and thoughts on my review for these during my lunch break. Review should be up the review in a few hours.

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New From Bobbi Brown: Baby Pink Lip Gloss and Pink Apricot Shimmer Lip Color

January 28, 2014
Bobbi Brown has a released several new collections this spring including her Nude Glow, Uber Pinks and Shimmer Lip Color reformulations. I reviewed Bronze Nail Polish earlier (which I love). Today I bring some swatches of her Baby Pink Lip Gloss ($25 for .24 fl oz/7 ml) from the Uber Pinks collection and Pink Apricot Shimmer Lip Color ($25 for .12 oz/3.5 g) from her new formula of shimmer lipsticks.

Baby Pink is a soft peachy pink with shimmer. The shimmer shows up more on the lips than what you see in the tube, but it’s a natural kind of shimmer. It’s fairly pale on me due to the silvery flecks inside but still has enough color in the base to show up and not completely wash me out. I suspect fairer skin girls will love this. Medium-tan girls who love pale colors for more of a contrast will like this too as it will show up on the lips. I couldn’t detect any scent although I’m sick with a cold right now and traveling so you may want to try first. As far as I can recall, most of her regular lip glosses are without a noticeable scent. Lasting power is medium for a gloss. It’s better than Chanel Glossimers and Armani Flash Lacquers but I wouldn’t call it long lasting.

Pink Apricot Shimmer is just as the name implies. It’s a lovely pink apricot loaded with shimmer. The texture is fairly smooth for something with this much shimmer. It’s not frosty even though I find it very shimmery. There are a number of gorgeous shades it was hard to pick just one. I’m happy to report that these are a quite a bit sturdier than her last shimmer lipsticks (she’s reformulated them several times since her original ones). I had four shades of the older formula and found them so soft that all of them broke at the base. The new colors all appeared to be holding up well at the tester counter and they looked like they had been out a week or so to withstand some heavy testing. 

Swatches side by side:

I highly recommend both. The shimmer lipsticks are definitely worth looking into – there’s a wide range of shades to choose from. I might have to go back and revisit to try one more.
Bobbi Brown Baby Pink Lipgloss and Pink Apricot Shimmer Lipstick are at all counters now. Online at Nordstrom, Neiman Marcus, Bloomingdales.
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NARS Spring 2014 Larger Than Life Lip Gloss – Bimini and Années Folles

January 26, 2014

The NARS Spring 2014 Collection has two new shades of Larger Than Life Lip Gloss in Bimini and Années Folles ($26 each for 0.19 oz/6ml). Both are fresh spring shades that are give a sheer wash of color. These have a high shine with a slightly thick formula to help them last long on the lips. They come with a brush applicator on the end. It’s been a while since I’ve purchased a new lip gloss from NARS and I’m happy to see the brushes on these are slightly bigger and longer than previous colors making them easier for me to apply color to the lips. As far as I can tell there is no detectable scent.

Bimini is described as a sheer guava pink. To me it looks more peachy. It swatches fairly sheer like a light shimmery peach-pink-guava. It’s so pretty in the tube and on the lips. On my lips it pulls more pigmented due to my natural lip color but it applies pretty much true to what you see in the tube. It’s sheer shimmery natural perfection.

Années Folles is a lilac pink cream. Sheer pink lilacs can add a soft hint of pink and brighten the whole face. Annees Folles applies a bit streaky with a few quick swipes (as seen below). If blended properly it smooths out to a sheer wash of lilac on the lips. This one may take a bit more work and blending with a lip brush depending on your natural lip tones.

Comparisons below to Chanel Calypso (discontinued), Armani Flash Lacquer 303, Chanel Coral Love (discontinued), Bobbi Brown Baby Pink Lip Gloss (new, review soon), Bobbi Brown Lilac Rose (discontinued), Dolce & Gabbana Pink Sapphire (review here), Dolce & Gabbana Raspberry and MAC English Accents (discontinued).

I favor Bimini since the color is easier to apply on my lips. It’s a good everyday kind of color that can be worn alone or over other lipsticks for added shine.
NARS Bimini and Annees Folles are available online at Nordstrom and narscosmetics.com. In stores and at counters starting February 1st.