Loving Right Now

Currently loving these reads:

• Paris in Four Months – new blog discovery (thanks to the interview featured on Feather Factor)
• The Non-Blonde – Tom Ford Love Lust Cheek Color (his blushes truly are amazing, they’re at the top of my favorites list from his beauty line)
• The Ultimate Makeup – Trend Spring Report from the Neiman Marcus
• Cafe Makeup – Shu Uemura Essence Absolue Nourishing Protective Oil (I think I need this now)
• Joey’space – Features three Burberry Beauty look breakdowns
• Best Things in Beauty – Giorgio Armani’s Summer Highlighter Duo looks so glowy
• The Honeybee – MAC Spice Lipstick looks gorgeous on Andee Layne
• Extra Petite – Love her florals and fuschia combination

• Late Friday night finds: Chanel Summer 2012 Nails at Macy’s in Island, Delight and Holiday and a package from FedEx at my door containing my NARS Trouville order
• Deborah Lippmann’s Sarah Smile looks perfectly polished on Lilly Chantilly
• NARS Ramatuelle Eyeshadow Trio is soft and dreamy (wore this all week), see it on Café Makeup
• New Dior Book Set as seen on The Non-Blonde
• The entire Tom Ford Spring line is swatched at Karla Sugar
• Tons of upcoming releases from Le Métier de Beauté, preview of Ken Downing’s Tickled Pinks at Best Things in Beauty
• NARS Thakoon nail colors (see a trend in what I’m loving?) at Makeup and Beauty Blog
• Burberry Summer 2012 Iconic Nude Preview on Rouge Deluxe
• Bobbi Brown Summer 2012 Miami Collection just arrived on counter at Nordstrom and Neimans, see the lineup on Temptalia (today I picked up Nude Beach and Bronze Sugar eyeshadows)

I still have a few more weeks of craziness at work, but there’s always time to play with Chanel 🙂

A few things I’m loving right now:

• Flawless coverage: NARS Pure Radiant Tinted Moisturizer in Alaska ($42) – This is not your typical tinted moisturizer. It’s so much better! It has smooth medium natural coverage that gives a well covered flawless look. It has a pleasant smell and lasts quite long on the skin. I found that my local Nordstrom counters had sample packets when this launched. I highly recommend you go and check it out. I am normally shade 3 or 4 in most lines, with this one I was the second lightest shade.
• Layerable Neutrals: Burberry and Le Métier de Beauté make gorgeous neutrals that are layerable. I like to use them as a first layering base and add more color on top for a softer look. Right now I’m smitten with Burberry Midnight Brown, Pale Barley and Le Métier Corinthian and Jojo.
• Hydrated Hands: L’Occitane makes my favorite hand creams. They are moisturizing without being too heavy, sticky or thick. I love their limited edition scents. Their newest is the Amande (Almond, green tube). I’m smitten with their Honey (mainly because of the packaging design). These make great gifts as well.
• Thick Defined Lashes: I have stubby short lashes and need all the help I can get. These days I’m loving the Larger than Life Volumizing Mascara by NARS ($25).
• Bright Nail Polishes: Chanel May (here), Dior Lucky (here) and Chanel Distraction (here). Perfect for spring to summer.
• Soft Refreshing Scents: I’m completely in love with L’Artisan L’Été en Douce (reviewed here). It’s light and fresh and perfect for everyday.

Other reads and videos I’m loving right now:

• Garance Doré – Pardon My French/Paris Episode 4 features snippets from Paris Fashion Week
• Nathan Branch gives us a preview of a new Serge Lutens in L’Eau Froide (he makes everything look so dreamy)
• Café Makeup shows us the latest Joues Contraste in Malice, Tumulte and Pink Explosion from Chanel
• Makeup Magpie swatched the new Laura Mercier Smoky Effects set at Nordstrom
• Messy Wands has the latest kaleidoscopes from Le Métier de Beauté: Northern Lights and Cherry Blossom
• The Non-Blonde shared Karl Lagerfield’s bathroom from Harper’s Bazaar
• Into the Gloss hosted an adorable play date get together (filled with NARS, MAC and Aesop goodies)
• Dior has an Asia-Exclusive release called Icy Halos, AudreyEleven makes me want the Icy Dew and Glacier Nail Polishes! Polish Police also has some photos here (ahhh, to want what I cannot have)

• NARS Larger Than Life Volumizing Mascara – thickens, holds curls & doesn’t flake (reviewed back in 2010 here)
• Glitter Nail Polish – Butter London Tart With a Heart & Deborah Lippmann Stairway to Heaven (yes, it’s a shocker, but these looked so lovely on Lilly Chantilly & Messy Wands I had to check these out)
• Mini Brushes – Laura Mercier hands down makes the best minis in sets and palettes, I like them more than her full sized versions, Le Métier and MAC have some lovely options too
• Bond No 9 Bon Bon Set – My husband and I are going to work our way through each one
• Lanvin Flats – My first pair in taupe, so comfortable!
• Le Métier de Beauté Antiquité Poupée – even with the dupes, I can’t deny the colors in this palette are so lovely
• Clé de Peau Intensive Eye Contour Cream (courtesy of Neiman Marcus and Clé de Peau) I never believed in Eye Cream until this winter, the dry weather & long work hours have been harsh on my skin, this has been a miracle worker
• Henri Bendel Candles – Among my favorites, especially the new Silver Birch! Other favorites include Vanilla Bean, Firewood, Fig, Quince, Pomegranate … I could go on and on!
• Nude Nail Polish – Hard to tell the color from the instagram filter, but it was Chanel Beige Petale
• Chanel Rouge Coco Shines – Being short on time and always on the go, Chanel Rouge Coco Shines are those easy swipe-and-go lipsticks that don’t require a mirror, the sheer glossy finish makes fading less obvious because it fades naturally
• Jo Malone Wild Bluebell – This is more appropriate for spring, but it lifts the mood and brightens my day, I’ve splurged on the shower gel, candle and cologne (reviewed here)
• Edward Bess Afterglow Cream Highlighter – Another lifesaver, the perfect cream highlighter to brighten and illuminate without being overly frosty or greasy (previously reviewed here)
• Chanel Wallet on Chains – Love these when I just need cards, keys, cash and one lipstick
• Urban Decay Naked 2 – Yes, this is an amazing palette! Very similar to the first Naked but a definite must for any neutral-lover, the layering possibilities are endless
• Chanel Le Vernis – Of course, always on my list of loving right now
• Nespresso Pixie & Aeroccino Plus – The best part of every morning and much more affordable compared to Starbucks, wish I could put one at my desk at work but it would make me way too popular & I would never get anything done

• The Man Repeller shows a killer Chanel Péridot manicure
• The Non-Blonde has me wanting to run out immediately for Laura Mercier’s Rose Rendezvous Face Illuminator
• Café Makeup and Liz feature a lovely look with the holiday duo from Chanel in Noir-Ivoire
• Messy Wands is drop-dead gorgeous in the soon-to-arrive Le Métier de Beauté Antiquité Poupée (update) so is Joeybunny via The Black Panties (this kit is exclusive to Bergdorf Goodman in December, I’d be all over it if it didn’t have that brick shade)
• Best Things in Beauty loves the new Edward Bess South of France face quad & I love that she loves it
• Makeup Magpie features the new Chanel Velvet Nails in Pirate, Rose Exhubérant & Rose Caché with the new matte top coat (I felt this release was completely unoriginal and uninspiring, but her photos make me want to put on Rose Exhubérant right away)
• The RaeViewer did a gorgeous Tom Ford Tutorial with Cognac Sable Quad and Sable Smoke lipstick, I highly recommend watching it
• Spring 2012 previews are already surfacing:
• Chanel is on La Chanelphile 
• Dior is on British Beauty Blogger
• Lancome is on British Beauty Blogger 
• NARS sneak peeks on Specktra.net – NARS Spring Thread
• Paul & Joe is linked on Rouge Deluxe