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Lipstick

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Marc Jacobs Beauty Lovemarc Lip Gel in Have We Met? and Lust for Lacquer Lip Vinyl Sheer in Pink Diamond

November 10, 2014

I have two Marc Jacobs Beauty lip products to share today that I’ve been obsessed with for a few weeks now. The Lovemarc Lip Gel in Have We Met? ($30 for 3.6 g / 0.12 oz) is a medium rose pink with a bit of gold shimmer. The formula of the Lovemarc Lip Gel is really nice and smooth. It’s become a favorite lipstick formula of mine, I think they are highly under-rated. The lipsticks are a unique gel formula with a slightly glossy finish. The shades I’ve tested adhere well to my lips and give medium to full coverage. (Other reviews on blog on Role Play, Serevine and Cabaret.) The Lip Gels have a slight vanilla scent but it is very soft and subdued making it wearable for me even though I have a super sensitive nose.

There are several new shades of the Lust For Lacquer Lip Vinyl Sheers and I ordered Pink Diamond online sight unseen ($28 for 0.15 oz). It’s a soft sheer pink gold with a super smooth shimmer. It is on the sheer side like most of the other Marc Jacobs Lip Glosses I’ve tried. Alone it gives a soft pink glow to the lips, but I did find the gold shimmer seemed to emphasize lip lines as it settled into the creases a bit. I like this one layered over a lip pencil or lipstick better than wearing it alone. It has a slightly minty tingle to it but it doesn’t numb the lips.

Swatches on lips:

I give the Love Marc Lip Gel in Have We Met? a huge thumbs up. It’s smooth, feels moisturizing, has decent medium lasting power and is a medium bright pink that has enough color to show up on the lips but still natural enough that it isn’t fuchsia. The Lust for Lacquer in Pink Diamond is something I think will be either hit or miss. I have some of the glosses that I really like in this formula, but there are some shades that tend to be just too sheer and settle into lip lines. That being said, I do really like the way it feels and if you have a smoother lip surface you shouldn’t have issues with it settling. It does wear really nicely over other lipsticks.

You can find both items online and instore at Sephora and Marc Jacobs Beauty.

P.S. The Sephora VIB Rouge and VIB 20% off promotion ends today at 11:59 PM PST, if you shop in store you can use the coupon they mailed to you or they should be able to look up your Beauty Insider account. If you’re ordering online, use code GIFTROUGE at checkout for the discount if you have VIB Rouge status. If you’re a VIB member you can use the code GIFTVIB at checkout. Be sure to check the terms and conditions on your mailer or e-mail coupon.
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Edward Bess Lasting Kiss Enhancing Lip Stains

November 5, 2014

Edward Bess has released four new lip stains called Lasting Kiss ($36 each for 0.49 oz/14.5 g, made in USA). These are liquid lip colors that have intense pigment and impressive staying power. They are full-coverage and all shades are without shimmer. The finish is in between satin and velvet, it has a very slight sheen to the finish which prevents them from looking flat (like some matte or full coverage lip creams can do). These come with Edward’s classic fig scent which I’m a huge fan of.

The Lasting Kiss Lip Stains come in a sleek black tube with a slightly angled sponge applicator. The tip is quite study but not stiff. It allows for precise application around the edges of the lips. The four colors include:
  • Risque which is a bright coral pink
  • Au Naturel which is a neutral-cool nude pink
  • Surrender is a cool blue-based baby pink
  • Deep in Love is a medium-bright plum rose

The colors are quite intense. They are vibrant shades which will be great for those who like color. I’m a nude/neutral lip lover at heart, so of course I fell in love with Au Naturel. Straight from the sponge tip, these go on the lips with super rich color. The color stays put once applied and doesn’t budge. If you layer on like a gloss or lipstick, you will find some of the color might transfer to a cup if you drink something shortly afterwards. However these are lip stains and you will still see the color stay put on your lips. I haven’t found anything that lasts as long as these do.

Swatches below on the arm with a heavy swatch and then a blended swatch. You can blot the lips after application for a more stained lip look. I find they apply very smoothly on the lips straight from the tube and require only a tiny bit of blending around the edges.

Swatches on the lips straight from the tube with the sponge applicator. Note that my lips pull cool-toned colors weird. Most of the women I know can easily pull off cool-toned pinks beautifully. On me they tend to turn fuchsia-ish (like with Surrender). For skin tone reference, I used Chanel Perfection Lumiere Velvet in B30 (swatches and review here).

My top two picks are Au Naturel and Deep In Love. Due to the rich pigment of these I find you do need to take a bit of care in applying precisely around the edges of the lips. If you’re looking for a bold lip or something that lasts on the lips for what seems like forever, these are definitely worth looking into. If you’re a more natural lip lover or want something deeper and less bright, I highly recommend Edward Bess’s Ultra Slick Lipsticks.

Bottom line love. In my mind Edward can do no wrong, I’ve been smitten with (and devoted to) his line for years. You can find the Lasting Kiss Enhancing Lip Stains at Neiman Marcus, Bergdorf Goodman and edwardbess.com. These are also available now at BG in NYC (ask for Lauren 212-872-8826) and Neiman Marcus Beverly Hills (ask for Morgan at the counter 310-550-5900).
The lip stains were kindly sent from Edward for review consideration.
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Tom Ford Beauty

Tom Ford Matte Lip Colors for Holiday 2014 – Now On Nordstrom.com

October 29, 2014
http://rstyle.me/n/sf55rubf6

If you’ve been waiting for all the shades of the Tom Ford Matte Lipsticks ($50 each) to show up online, all eight colors of the new lipstick formula are now available on Nordstrom.com including First Time which seems to have been the first to sell out other places and also Black Dahlia which didn’t show up for a while.

The eight colors include:
Pink Tease
Flame
Plum Lush
First Time
Black Dahlia
Pussycat
Ruby Rush
Velvet Cherry

My review and swatches on the formula and picks First Time, Pink Tease, Velvet Cherry and Pussycat here. My two favorites are First Time and Velvet Cherry.
At this time I’ve heard that First Time and Black Dahlia are the only two shades that are limited-edition, but I reports are often mixed depending on who you ask. I do know First Time sold out quickly so if you’ve been searching for it, I recommend ordering sooner than later.
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Lips Tom Ford Beauty

Tom Ford Lip Color Matte | First Time, Pink Tease, Pussycat and Velvet Cherry

October 17, 2014

Tom Ford has released a new lipstick formula called Lip Color Matte ($50 each, made in Belgium). I spotted some shades at the Tom Ford Boutique on Rodeo Drive last week. The new Lip Color Mattes are currently available online at Tom Ford and Neiman Marcus, they should be released at all Tom Ford retailers later this season. I found some helpful swatches and photos on Instagram from @beautyprofessor, @reallyree and @tanyabuzzetta. I saw seven different shades in Pink Tease, First Time, Velvet Cherry, Pussycat, Flame, Plum Lush and Ruby Rush, although there are reports that an additional shade Black Dahlia might also be released.

The Lip Color Matte formula is a lipstick with a velvety semi-matte finish. They are designed to be matte lipsticks but they aren’t really a traditional full matte which is a huge plus for me. I rarely say I hate anything beauty related, but on me, I really hate matte lips. I find they emphasize lines, look heavy/thick and end up aging the face. Finding colors that work with the matte texture is also tricky for me. The Tom Ford Lip Color Mattes have a soft cushy velvety texture. They glide on smoothly onto the lips and don’t look dry. I do find that if you have any peeling or dry areas, prep the lips with a lip balm for a few minutes and then wipe it off before applying the lipstick. Another good alternative I like is MAC’s Prep + Prime Lip (it’s a good lip primer to keep lipstick in place, but not really a lip moisturizer).

These have the same vanilla scent as the regular lip colors do. Lasting power is quite good, they aren’t budge proof but they do stay put fairly long. I picked out four colors, three neutrals and one deep burgundy red. The others were very dark and bright – good if you want a dramatic lip, but too dramatic for my taste. The color I bought include:

L to R: First Time, Pink Tease, Pussycat, Velvet Cherry

  • First Time is a peach nude pink, this one applies nicely on the lips, you have to let it sit for a minute and warm up on the lip though, it doesn’t change color but the texture melds into the lip after a minute of sitting on the lips
  • Pink Tease is a very cool-toned medium pink, this looks like a neutral pink in the tube, but on my lips it went a bit fluorescent and pulled very cool on my skin, this one needs tweaking with a gloss or lipliner to warm it up, otherwise it makes my lips look really dry just because the color clashes with my skin
  • Pussycat is a cool mauve pink, this one surprised me, I thought it would go on too blue-toned based on how it swatched on my hand, it’s a surprisingly wearable mauve
  • Velvet Cherry is a deep red, this something I usually don’t go for, but it’s a classic deep dark red that isn’t too dark, this one needs careful application and lip prep, it has such a sharp contrast with my natural lip color, precise application is key, I applied it below straight from the tube (scroll down) although I should have fixed it with a lip brush

Close ups and swatches, you can see below the coverage and pigment is really good:

Comparisons, Set One has the following (I’ll link previous swatches and reviews):

Set Two has Aerin Wild Lilac, Tom Ford Black Orchid (discontinued), MAC Ruby Patent Polish, Burberry Blueberry Lip Mist

Lip swatches of the four lip mattes I picked out below:

I like First Time, Pussycat and Velvet Cherry. In real life they look very natural and smooth on the lips, a camera flash tends to emphasize any shadows or fine lines so they might look a bit dry in the photos above. The exception is with Pink Tease which I am not a fan of (at least on me). I can’t really pull off cool-toned bright pinks well, they end up looking too mod-like. The color just looks really aged and dry on my lips, but in all fairness, all colors similar in tone and brightness do the same.

I’m not a fan of matte-finish lipsticks so I can’t say I am absolutely in love with these, but I am very pleased with 3 of the 4 shades I bought. I personally prefer Tom Ford’s other lip formulas and color options, but the Lip Color Mattes still perform very well and I do think they are worth looking into, especially if you like rich deep colors.

The Lip Color Mattes can be found online and in stores at Tom Ford Boutiques and Neiman Marcus for $50 each. They should be widely available at all Tom Ford counters soon. (PS Neiman Marcus has their Incircle event now and an online mini lipstick gift with $100 purchase, while supplies last).

Are you a fan of matte lips or Tom Ford lipsticks? Have you picked up any of the colors?

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Lipstick Queen Silver Screen Lipstick in You Kid

October 15, 2014

Lipstick Queen’s latest Silver Screen Collection which features seven new shades of lipstick cased in a super glamorous silver bullet tube ($50 each for 0.12 oz/3.5 g, made in Canada). The Silver Screen Collection lipsticks have a rich lush formula that give rich coverage with a glossy finish. According to Lipstick Queen, these contain a high percentage of an innovative new active ingredient Pomegranate Sterols derived from the pomegranate fruit, which improves the barrier-function of the lips, keeping them soft and hydrated for longer. It’s further enhanced with anti-oxidant vitamin E, moisturizing plant oils, beeswax and skin-perfecting vitamin A, which ensure lips stay nourished and comfortable all day long. These have a high quality peppermint oil which gives this a fresh feel to the lips without tingling or irritation.

I have the shade in You Kid to share with you today. It’s described as an “understated yet eye-catching nude” and I couldn’t find better words to describe it. It’s a beautiful full-coverage lipstick that has a naturally glossy finish to make the lips look like they have a natural shine. It might seem quite basic but, I actually find You Kid to be a unique nude. It has a good mix of pink and beige in it so in some light it looks more pink while in others it looks more nude. It has enough color that it doesn’t wash out the complexion or make the lips look too pale. This is probably one of the easiest-to-wear nudes I’ve ever tried. There’s no shimmer in it, it’s a straight cream with a super moisturizing feel.

At $50 each, you may be super hesitant to jump and buy one. I’ve tried a number of Lipstick Queen lipsticks and the Silver Screen formula is definitely superior to the Saint and Sinner formulas. Silver Screen is super moisturizing, lush and glides on the lips flawlessly. Lasting power is quite good for me lasting several hours if the lips remain untouched. The price for these lipsticks is rather steep but Lipstick Queen went all out with design and formulation of these lipsticks. The formula is one of the best I’ve tried. It feels absolutely amazing on the lips. The packaging is heavy in weight and luxurious in design with a magnetic base so it snaps shut when you put the lid on it.

Indoor lighting shows it to be a bit more pinkish:

Swatches:

Some comparisons to Tom Ford Indian Rose Lip Color (review), Nudestix Soul Lip & Cheek Pencil (review), Lipstick Queen Pinky Nude Sinner and Pinky Nude Saint (swatches).

You Kid is bottom line flawless, but I don’t know how I feel about the $50 price tag. For any lip product priced over $35, I am usually very picky with color, formula, texture and scent and no matter how amazing it is, I still can’t really get over the sticker shock (except for items from Tom Ford). The Lipstick Queen Silver Screen formula is really phenomenal, but I’ll have to investigate the other shades in person and do more testing before I splurge. That being said, if these interest you, you might want to take advantage of the Space NK Discovery Promotion (online for US) which offers $20 off any $75+ order with code DISCOVER20 at checkout, good through the 21st of October. 

You can find the Lipstick Queen Silver Screen Collection online at Lipstick Queen, Space NK and Space NK stores. Have you tried any of the Silver Screen collection lipsticks? 
The Lipstick Queen lipstick was a press sample provided for review consideration.
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A First Look At Gucci Makeup | Beauty Look Book Picks

October 8, 2014

Gucci Beauty has arrived in the US. I ordered several items sight unseen from Saks based on online stock swatches, crossed my fingers and hoped for the best. After a few days of testing I am happy to report that I very pleased with my purchases, especially since I ordered everything without seeing them in person first.

The items I ordered:

My favorite items out of my first look at Gucci Beauty include the Magnetic Color Shadow Mono eyeshadows. The colors I ordered are all shimmery with a very smooth and velvety texture. The shimmer is finely milled and the colors have a complex mix of sparkles making them multi-dimensional and quite naturally stunning on the lids. I find them to have medium to full coverage. These apply naturally on the lids but have buildable and layerable pigment. I used all three shades together and found that they layered on top of each other quite nicely. Starlight is a cool champagne with slight taupe notes, Sunstone is a warm peachy champagne in the pot but goes on neutral-cool on my olive skin, Oxydus is a warm bronze with a hint of olive.

The Magnetic Color Shadow Duo in Aristocratic has a soft matte neutral-cool brown and a medium-toned purple shimmer. Both of these are also very soft and easy to blend with decent pigment. Aristocratic ordered has a softer look and finish compared to the singles I ordered, but still shows up on the lids. It’s a good basic everyday kind of duo although if I had seen it in person I would have probably skipped it. If you’re a lover of matte shades or colors with a slight hint of shimmer this is a good option. For me, I need something more pigmented with more pop, I find NARS Brousse to be a similar but better choice.

For the lips, I ordered Spring Rose in the Audacious Lipstick and Lip Lacquer. Both are very nice. The Spring Rose Audacious Lipstick is a neutral pink beige rose cream that gives rich smooth coverage. I found it glided over the lips very easily and covered the entire lip with two swipes. Some full coverage lipsticks can look dry and I found the Gucci Lipstick gave a nice soft lush velvety finish. It has a noticeable sweet floral-candy like scent which I found nice and non-irritating. The scent fades on the lips after a minute. Lasting power of the lipstick is quite good. I’m very impressed. I have mixed feelings about the Spring Rose Vibrant Demi-Glaze Lip Lacquer. I found mine to be very sheer. It is similar in color to the lipstick, but sheerer and lighter in color and has a little bit of sparkles mixed in. Based on the name, I expected a full coverage or at least medium coverage gloss. Spring Rose isn’t invisible, but rather in the sheer-medium range. I would have liked more coverage but it does show up alone and it layers nicely over the lipstick. The scent of the gloss is significantly stronger than the lipsticks. For me, it’s not a deal-breaker and I’ve been able to wear it with no issues. (I can’t wear older Lancome or Estee Lauder lipsticks, glosses, juicy tubes etc. because those are too strong, but I am able to wear the Gucci.) Those who are super sensitive to fragrance may want to wait to try before buying.

All items swatched side by side with different lighting (please excuse the typos below, the Aristocrat Duo label is supposed to say Aristocratic Duo):

Close ups:

Without flash:

Overall I’m really pleased with the items I bought. The quality of the Gucci Beauty line is quite excellent and I think the lasting power and textures are exquisite. I will definitely be purchasing more of the lipsticks after I see the line in person. I’ll be investigating the eyeshadows more as well, but the online swatches make it difficult to tell the true color or complexity so I’ll be testing before buying any more. If the rest of the glosses and duos are as sheer as the ones I bought I’ll be skipping the rest of the other options. I’m undecided about the packaging designs. They are distinctly Gucci and quite sturdy, but I’m not sure I like the look of the beauty line packaging. It seems flashy to me, but I shouldn’t be so judgmental about it since it’s functional, sleek and well-made.

You can find Gucci Beauty online at Gucci, Saks and Neiman Marcus. I ordered mine items from Saks. If you’ve tried anything from Gucci, I’d love to hear your thoughts!

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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.

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