Nail Polish Archives - Page 3 of 55

My Favorite Everyday Neutral Nail Polishes

February 14, 2017

Today’s post is another one by popular request. It seems like neutral nail polishes are what a lot of you need recommendations for and I totally understand the pain of finding a good one. There are so many neutral options but many are that either too sheer, too light, too pink or really beige and if you’re like me you’ll go to the store, look at all the OPI or Essie options and think hmmm a lot of these look really similar. I’ve found that something with a bit of pink and nude mixed together works best for my olive skintone. I’m still on the hunt for the perfect light nude peach that isn’t too yellow, too orange or beige. I love the look of OPI Samoan Sand on others but on me it’s a bit too dark and a bit too peachy. I did a similar post back in 2014 of my Favorite Nude Pink Polishes. Today I have an updated version although a few of them will be on repeat because I just haven’t found anything better.

If you see me wearing a nude polish, there is a really good chance that it’s either Tom Ford Sugar Dune, Essie Topless and Barefoot or Burberry Nude Pink. All three are very similar – the difference is slight in undertone but pigment and wear time is also different. Many times you just don’t know what a color will look like until you try it on your hands. Something that looks incredibly boring in the bottle like Tom Ford Sugar Dune ends up being one of the prettiest soft nude pinks ever. If you think all these look the same you’re right but I’ll add descriptions on what makes them each unique so you can find the right one for you.

Lineup in natural light:

Descriptions as I see them and notes on how many coats it takes for full coverage:

Essie Spin the Bottle is a nude pink with slight warmth to it, it’s one of the few ones that has a bit of beige and peach that I can wear, this one takes two coats for full coverage and the best way to make it last is with Seche Vite top coat, although many of you have recommended the Essie No Chips Ahead
Essie Topless and Barefoot is one of my most-worn polishes, it’s a nude pink and has more pink than Spin the Bottle, this one unfortunately almost always gets tip wear on me within 7 hours to 1 day no matter what top coat I use, but I still love the color so with this one I’m going to try it with the Essie top coat once I have a chance to go pick one up, this one always need 3 to 4 coats for me
Louboutin Tutulle (all 10 of the nudes swatched and reviewed here) is one of the best nude beige pink polishes I’ve tried, all the Louboutin nudes are just flawless, it has smooth shiny coverage and only takes 2 coats and usually lasts a minimum of 7 days without chipping or tip wear
Tom Ford Sugar Dune is a light powdery looking cool pink, on the hands it gives the most polished elegant look I’ve seen, I get full coverage with two coats but there are times I need three
Chanel Organdi (reviewed here) is another great neutral, this is one of the darker colors but it’s still light enough in color that it gives the hands the look of being lighter and brighter, this has medium coverage in texture but you can get full coverage with two thin coats
OPI Mimosas for Mr and Mrs is one of the sheerest neutrals I own and takes a minimum of 3 coats, the result is a clean looking light pink neutral though so sometimes when I have patience I’m ok with the extra work it takes
OPI Be There in a Prosecco (application shown here) is one of the lightest polishes I have that isn’t a pure white but pretty close, it has a bit of cream in it without being yellow, this gives the effect of white polish but it’s not as harsh on the skin, this one has full coverage with two coats, the first coat will be streaky but it will even out with the second
Dior Incognito is a classic neutral pink with warmth, for me this looks better when I have a tan, but I love that it’s semi sheer but still incredibly smooth with a flawless high shine finish, I need two coats with this one
Burberry Nude Pink (also reviewed here) is another classic, it’s lasted over two years and is still just as good as when I bought it, many of mine last for years, it’s a great opaque neutral nude pink, full coverage achieved with two coats
Nails Inc. Bond Street Passage is a new one to me, it’s not really one I’d consider in the neutral category because it looks more like a mauve pink in the bottle, on the hands it pulls more like a neutral with a pink kick, this is a one coat wonder but I still prefer it with two coats to get a more cushiony look, I haven’t tried much from this line, so far only 3 polishes, but every time I do I’m really just blown away by the pigment in their polishes!

Swatches on the nail wheel, all of these have two coats with the exception of OPI Mimosas for Mr. and Mrs. which has 4 and Essie Topless and Barefoot which has 3:

Swatches in natural lighting for each of these polishes, OPI Be There in a Prosecco (Ulta Beauty), two coats:

OPI Mimosas for Mr and Mrs (Ulta Beauty), three coats:

Two coats, mug from Etsy:

Essie Topless and Barefoot (Ulta Beauty), three coats:

Essie Spin the Bottle (Ulta Beauty), three coats:

Burberry Nude Pink (Nordstrom), two coats:

Tom Ford Sugar Dune (Nordstrom), two coats:

Chanel Organdi (Chanel.com), two coats:

Louboutin Tutulle (Nordstrom and Sephora), two coats:

Nails Inc Bond Street Passage (Sephora), two coats:

Dior Incognito (Sephora), two coats:

Another look of the polishes lined up in sunlight with flash:

You definitely do not need all of these, but I hope this helps compare colors in a side by side and swatch manner. I’ve accumulated many polishes over the past few years and these are my favorite neutrals that you can still find today. A few other favorites have been limited-editions from Dior and you can’t find them anymore so I didn’t want to include those in the roundup. As many of you have asked for recommendations that are in the more affordable price range I included Essie and OPI to the mix. I usually consider myself a lover of brighter or bold shades for the fingers like Chanel Camelia or Louboutin Miss Mars, but I really like the clean and almost brightening look of neutral nails.

My top three favorites of the moment: Tom Ford Sugar Dune, Louboutin Tutulle and Chanel Organdi.

Do you have any neutral favorites? I know the word “neutral” can mean something different to everyone, but I’d love to hear what yours are! They don’t have to be nude pinks like the ones I featured, let me know what has worked for you and if you can share your skintone that would be super helpful as well 🙂

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Christian Louboutin Nail Polish

Christian Louboutin Loubichrome Mini Nail Colours

January 27, 2017

Earlier this month Christian Louboutin launched mini nail polishes called Loubichrome Nail Colours ($30 each, 6 ml/0.2 fl oz). There are three colors in this launch with new limited-edition packaging where the tops have rainbow chrome-like tints. The colors are all shimmery with light-reflecting particles described as having a chrome finish. When it comes to metallics or chromes for the nails I’m super hesitant to try many brands mainly because of the streaking you can see with noticeable brush strokes. With the Loubichromes there is no streaking whatsoever – the shimmer is smooth and colors are easy to apply. Pigment is excellent with two coats. Right now the Loubichromes are the most exciting thing in nail polish for me with colors that are fun, unique and cheerful.

This is the first time Louboutin has launched the minis individually. (Minis versus full-size shown in this post here.) These run at a lower $30 price point which is easier to justify compared to the $50 price tag of the original/regular sizes. Still at $30 each these are very expensive – but quality-wise these are excellent. Packaging is a work of art. With Louboutin nail polishes I find they wear extremely well and last around 5-7 days without any signs of tip wear or chipping. I use several different top coats, a few favorites include the CND Super Shiney, Louboutin Loubi Nail Gloss (c/o), or the Nails Inc. 45 Second Top Coat.

The colors in the Loubichrome launch include:

Loubichrome I is described as an energetic yellow infused with lime green
Loubichrome II is described as a fiery rosy red
Loubichrome III is described as a glistening violet

Loubichrome I is the most edgy color, I rarely ever wear yellows or greens on the nails. This one is very much outside my comfort zone but I think it could be a fun shade for the summertime. Performance is perfect in terms of application and pigment. Swatched with two coats.

Loubichrome II is my favorite. It’s a metallic warm red rose color. I don’t own many shimmery soft reds, I have quite a few metallic pinks and fuchsia colors. This one has a pretty warmth to it and it’s a color I think I could wear year round. Swatched with two coats.

Loubichrome III is a really pretty iridescent violet. It flashes purple, pink, violet and has the most amazing metallic sheen to it. It’s definitely not a conservative color but it’s still very wearable. Swatched with two coats.

Bottom line: well made, beautiful but spendy. My favorite is the red one Loubichrome II, but all three shades are fun with a summery vibe. Loubichrome I is the most trendy color and I’ve tried yellow polishes in the past but don’t think I’m the type that can pull it off. I can definitely see myself getting regular use out of the purple one in the summer. I’m wearing it right now on the fingers and think it’s really pretty. It’s a nice change from the nudes and light pinks I’ve been wearing lately. I’ve been asked numerous times if these are worth the high price tag. My answer and thoughts discussed in this post here. Personal thoughts and feelings are still the same.

The Louboutin Loubichromes retail for $30 each, all limited-edition. You can find them at Nordstrom, Sephora, Neiman Marcus, Saks Fifth Avenue, Net-A-Porter and Christian Louboutin. Have you tried these? What did you think? If not, what are you loving for the nails right now?

Loubichromes sent courtesy of Christian Louboutin for review.

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Glossier

Glossier Black Tie Set for Holiday 2016

November 16, 2016

Glossier just launched their limited-edition Black Tie Set ($50) for holiday and it comes packaged in the cutest white box with a satin black ribbon. Inside you get four full-sized beauty products including a clear lip gloss, No. 1 Eye Pencil in Graphite, Nail Polish in #glossierpink and Haloscope Highlighter in Moonstone. The packaging is so perfect: cute, feminine, glam all in one and I just couldn’t resist ordering one out of curiosity and I’m glad I did.

The set is designed to give you a “Glossier party look.” To me all the items have an understated, subtle barely-there kind of glow rather than a party vibe unless you’re the kind of girl who likes to party without much makeup. When I think about each item individually: I really didn’t need another clear lip gloss, I have a number of highlighters that I already love and use, the graphite liner is something I wouldn’t really pick out on my own as I tend to gravitate towards bronze shades, and the pink nail polish seemed a bit basic. In spite of all these feelings I still really love this set and love the youthful fun vibe it gives. Thoughts on each of the items:

The Glossier Lip Gloss is clear but comes with a pink tint giving it a special girly kind of feel. It’s thick and slightly sticky but not tacky.
The Moonstone cheek highlighter is very sheer and dewy with a youthful feel. It has an emollient feel with a dewy finish reminding me of the RMS Living Luminizer but in packaged in a twist up tube.
The #glossierpink nail polish exceeded my expectations in formula and the brush is really good. Almost a Dior kind of good. The color appears to be your basic kind of pink but on the fingers with two coats it has extremely good smooth coverage and gives a feminine dainty kind of feel. It lasted on my hands for a good 7 days without any tip wear but you do need to use a good base coat to make it stick/adhere to the nails. I used Formula X The System Originals base and top coat when testing.
The No. 1 Pencil in Graphite is a shimmery gunmetal, it has just the right amount of shimmer without being glittery, texture is smooth

A closer look at each item, first swatches of the whole set:

The Lip Gloss:

The Eyeliner in Graphite and Haloscope Highlighter in Moonstone:

Haloscope Highlighter comparison swatches:

#Glossierpink Nail Polish:

Look, wearing all the items this set and Tom Ford Waterproof Foundation/Concealer in Bisque set with Laura Mercier Candleglow Setting Powder #2.

One last look below of the nail polish, it’s applied with two coats:

Overall I love the set even if it doesn’t really give me a party look. I did expect to like it as much as I do especially since I think Glossier items more for the super minimalist no-makeup kind of girl. The items are still well made and fun. There’s a very youthful vibe to this set which I think is what appeals to me. The packaging is just too cute. I love that the clear gloss has a pinkish tint to the formula.

The set is limited-edition and retails for $50, available exclusively online at Glossier. You can save 10% off your first order by clicking this referral link. I think this was worth the price and am really happy with everything. If you’ve tried this set or other Glossier items let me know in the comments!

Quick note – I’ve had some site updates and changes and it appears some of you haven’t been able to post comments. I’m working to get this fixed, in the meantime thank you for your patience!

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Chanel

Chanel Collection Libre Holiday 2016 Picks

October 21, 2016

The Beauty Look Book Collection Libre Picks

Many of us have been wondering for a few weeks whether or not the Collection Libre Synthetic de Chanel would be the holiday collection or if it was a mini launch. We now know that it is indeed the official Chanel Holiday 2016 launch this year. The pieces definitely have a unique take on a winter holiday theme with a mix of a cool-toned silvery smokey eyes, black liner, and an interesting mix for nails and lips. I ordered these sight unseen and have yet to see the collection in person in stores. I’m happy with all but one of my picks. What I hauled:

Velvet Nail Color in Pink Rubber

Le Vernis in Liquid Mirror and Hyperrose Glass

Rouge Allure Gloss in Super Coral and Super Nude

The Beauty Look Book - Chanel Holiday 2016

I bought the 3 nail polishes because to date I don’t think I’ve skipped a seasonal nail polish launch in many years. Since the reformulation I have yet to try all the new permanent colors, but for seasonal collection launches I still collect them. We have Velvet Nail Color in Pink Rubber (limited-edition), Le Vernis in Liquid Mirror and Le Vernis in Hyperrose Glass (limited-edition).

The Beauty Look Book - Chanel Velvet Nail Color Pink Rubber, Liquid Mirror and Hyperrose Glass

Pink Rubber is the item that I’m not thrilled with mainly because I don’t like matte or velvety nails. My first instinct when I put it on was “I hate it” – the matte finish is just something I can’t get into. This one is such an interesting concept though as it dries to a gel-like rubber matte finish. Coverage is just perfection with two coats though which I find very rare for pale pastel polishes. Most apply like a streaky mess and require 3 coats to smooth out or are just very sheer. The exceptions are Dior and Tom Ford from my experience. The first coat of Pink Rubber can be a streaky mess but the second coat fixes everything to a perfect soft baby pink.

I think it photographs well but in real life it just looked odd to me. The finish is something you have to see in person to truly understand the velvet finish. I think it can easily be fixed by adding a glossy top coat.

The Beauty Look Book - Chanel Velvet Nail Color Pink Rubber

Liquid Mirror is a metallic silver which is beautiful but I’m just not into silvery nails right now. This is a one-coat wonder but I always apply colors with two coats. Brush strokes are visible but the formula is very good so you can smooth it out as seen below. For a metallic almost chrome color I think performance, pigment and formula are all excellent.

The Beauty Look Book - Chanel Liquid Mirror

Hyperrose Glass is an interesting shade as it’s on the sheer side. It feels like it almost has a transparent base with bright pink shimmer particles suspended. I do wish this one had full coverage as what you see in the bottle is simply gorgeous. It’s shown below with 3 coats. I suspect a fourth coat can add more color.

The Beauty Look Book - Chanel Hyperrose Glass

One of my beauty friends who has also been a long-time Chanel fan sent me a link to British Beauty Blogger’s post on Chanel Christmas layering Hyperrose Glass over Liquid Mirror on a nail wheel. I would have never thought to do that but gave it a whirl on the fingers. It has that 90’s duo-chrome vibe which I think is so interesting but don’t know that I’d wear. Below is one coat of Liquid Mirror and one coat of Hyperrose Glass.

The Beauty Look Book - Chanel Liquid Mirror and Hyperrose Glass

Next are the lip picks which include the Rouge Allure Gloss in Super Coral and Super Nude (both limited-edition). Neither have a holiday or winter vibe to me, but these colors are right up my alley so I said yes to both and added them to my cart. I really like this formula of gloss (previously reviewed here) and can’t believe it’s already been two years since Chanel first launched this.

Super Coral is a medium but muted coral with slight pink tones. Super Nude is a perfect soft peachy nude. Both are amazing. If you tried NARS Lip Gloss in Chelsea Girls but find it too sheer, Chanel Super Nude is a better alternative as it gives more color, coverage and pigment. It is thicker in texture though so if you need something weightless these might be too heavy.

Still I really like the Rouge Allure Gloss formula. It’s thick but not too thick. It has a perfect shine and just the tiniest bit of shimmer. Gloss adheres well to the lips and makes them look lush and full. It’s about time Chanel added more colors to this formula and I hope they continue to do so.

The Beauty Look Book - Chanel Rouge Allure Gloss Super Nude and Super Coral

The Beauty Look Book - Chanel Rouge Allure Gloss Super Nude

The Beauty Look Book - Chanel Rouge Allure Gloss Super Coral

Swatch comparisons:

The Beauty Look Book - Chanel Rouge Allure Gloss comparisons

NARS Velvet Lip Glide in Stripped, Unlaced and Playpen (reviewed here)

Chanel Glossimer in Beige Star (on lips here)

NARS Lip Gloss in Chelsea Girls (review here)
Chanel Rouge Allure Glosses in Sensuel, Sensible, Affroliant (review here)

Chanel Rouge Allure Ink in Amoureux (on the lips here)
Diorific Matte Fluid in Pleasure 001 (review here)

I’ve found some nice pieces. My favorite items are the Rouge Allure Glosses which I think are both just so perfect they are back-up worthy. I’ve gone back and forth in my head on the Hyperfresh Joues Contraste as it looks quite beautiful but am just not sure especially since I already own a lot of blushes and there are lots of holiday items coming out soon. When I placed my order the blush was not available at the time. If you’ve tried it let me know what you think. I may go investigate this weekend.

You can find the Chanel Collection Libre right now at Chanel.com, Nordstrom and Saks. I suspect it will be available at all counters very soon.

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Christian Louboutin

Christian Louboutin The Noirs Nail Colors for Fall 2016 – Miziggoo and Miss Mars

September 22, 2016

It’s hard to believe it’s already been two years since Christian Louboutin first launched Rouge Louboutin Nail Polish! Where has all the time gone? Since the first beauty launch from the luxury line there have been quite a few new additions for nails, lips and now perfume. For this fall season there are two new polishes that have been added to The Noirs Nail Colour ($50 each) in Mizzigoo and Miss Mars. As I still do not have any Louboutin beauty items at counters near me I ordered them immediately. They are simply lovely. Mizziggoo is a dark chocolate vamp brown cream and Miss Mars is a perfect steel grey metallic. Performance is perfect. My wallet is not happy but my fingers are. I know that a $50 nail color is very spendy. Many of you have asked me if it’s worth the price. I don’t think I could ever say that a $50 price tag for a nail polish is “worth it” but it doesn’t mean I won’t buy them. I’ve bought quite a few Louboutin Nail Polishes and I haven’t been disappointed yet.

They both have similar vibes to previously launched colors from other lines so you may want to shop your stash for dupes. I pulled a few other shades to compare (scroll down to the bottom). The verdict is that I’m still happy I bought both. The pigment is perfect, coverage flawless, lasting power phenomenal (up to 7 days without tip wear with a good top coat).

I’ve featured a closer look at the bottles and brushes in a few posts before but some of you have asked for another look. The brushes are thin and medium in length – longer than many other brands I own but still easy to use for precise application. The coverage is very good with the Noirs but I always use two coats. I’ve been testing the Nail Care Kit which is also very steep in price but very very good. Review on this soon.

Swatches below. Up first is Mizigoo which I think is just perfect!

Miss Mars is such a pretty steel grey. The brush strokes are minimal and shimmer/texture is very smooth:

Shown under indoor light where it looks more muted. Depending on the light sometimes Miss Mars appears less grey and more blue.

Miss Mars:

Miziggoo:

Swatch comparisons below. Note many of the shades shown below have been discontinued:

Chanel Black Pearl (discontinued) is more green in undertone
Dior Metal Montaigne has a more metallic finish while the Louboutin shimmer is more evenly distributed, the Louboutin has slightly cooler undertones
Tom Ford Blackout (still available at Violet Grey) is deeper and more black
Chanel Steel (discontinued) is deeper in color
Louboutin Miziggoo is the most vampy brown color I have with the chocolate undertone, by comparison many of the others have a more red base
Dior Skyline is a lot more red in undertone and lighter
Chanel Rouge Noir (current version) by comparison almost looks red plum
Dior Hypnotic is also more plum
Chanel Western Light (discontinued) has a similar effect but the base is a lot cooler in undertone by comparison

One last look:

Bottom line flawless and I love them both. You can definitely find similar colors but I love the rich depth Miziggoo has. Miss Mars has a perfectly smooth shimmer and if you’re really picky with metallics and visible brush strokes this one is flawless with the smooth shimmer.

You can find them at Louboutin stores and counters now. Online at Nordstrom, Sephora, Neiman Marcus, Bergdorf Goodman and Christian Louboutin.

Have you tried these yet? If not, what colors are you wearing on your nails this fall?

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Dior Eye Makeup Highlighters

Dior Skyline Collection for Fall 2016

August 23, 2016

The Dior Skyline Collection for Fall 2016 is the first fall collection I’m reviewing this year. A lot of you have been e-mailing me and messaging me about fall beauty which has just started to arrive at counters. The most highly requested item for review has been the Diorskin Nude Air Luminizer in this collection and I will say right up front go buy it now – Dior never disappoints with highlighters and they give a very pretty glow. The Dior team has also created a special promo code for Beauty Look Book readers so if you see any items that catch your eye, scroll down to the end of this post for details.

The items from fall that I have to review:

Diorblush Light and Contour Stick Sculpting Duos ($44 each) 001, 002, and 003
Diorskin Nude Air Luminizer ($56) in 001
5 Couleurs Skyline Eyeshadow Palette ($63 each) in Parisian Sky and Capital of Light
Dior Vernis ($27 each) in Minimal and Skyline
Dior Addict Lipstick Hydra-Gel Core Mirror Shine ($35 each) in Incognito and Sophisticated

Up first are the standouts in my opinion which include the Diorblush Light and Contour Sticks and Diorskin Nude Air Luminizer. I already reviewed and swatched the contour sticks but I will repost photos for reference. As a quick recap, the Diorblush Light and Contour sticks are natural looking contour creams that are very easy to use and that won’t give you a harsh look. They blend nicely along the cheeks and for a contour-dummy like myself, they’re impossible to overdo.

A closer look at the contour sticks:

The Diorskin Nude Air Luminzer 001 for fall is absolutely stunning. It comes with an embossed design on the surface. This is one of those shades that will look different on everyone. Fair skin-toned beauty lovers will find this almost peachy while deeper skintones will find this more pale. On my medium skintone I find it to be a champagne gold with slight peachy tones. It’s finely milled, blends in with the skin flawlessly, doesn’t emphasize pores, stays put all day and has the prettiest sheen. The highlighter comes with a tiny kabuki brush which is well made but for me on the small side so I find it best for touch ups or on-the-go rather than for regular application.

Left is swatched heavily, right is blended out. You can blend or sheer out the color more if you prefer a more diffused glow. It’s absolutely perfect!

Swatch comparisons below show that the Nude Air Glowing Gardens 002 from spring is a tiny bit lighter than the Nude Air Luminizer for Fall 2016. On my face they are almost identical, I put one on each side of my face and they looked pretty close. Photos of course cannot do the shimmers or texture justice but I hope these help show the difference. And yes, even if you already own the spring versions, I think the one for fall is still a must.

Up next are the two Skyline Eyeshadow Palettes. These also come with a stunning embossed surface. Texture is similar to that of the highlighter – they’re powders with a slightly creamy feel. Pigment is medium but buildable and the texture melds in with the skin so they don’t look powdery. If you apply them with a slightly damp brush the color can be intensified.

Capital of Light has a mix of shimmery and satiny shades including a gorgeous grey taupe, pale ivory white shimmer, satiny baby pink, shimmering tan and deep violet plum. The mix of colors creates a pretty smokey plum eye.

Parisian Sky has all shimmery shades. This one is better suited for an everyday kind of look. The colors include a shimmering tan, light sand shimmer, pale blue shimmer, silvery blue sparkle and deep chocolate shimmer. The blues give a sheer wash on the eyes and brighten the entire eye area when layered with the sand and beige colors. As one who rarely wears blue colors on the eyes, I found these surprisingly wearable.

Next up are two lip colors for the fall collection which is the Addict Hydra-Gel Core Mirror Shine Lipsticks ($35 each). There are a few repromoted colors like Incognito 316 which is a classic neutral pink that pulls cool on my skintone. There is one new limited-edition color called Sophisticated 927 which is a cool-toned plum with a silvery sheen. These have a smooth sheer to medium coverage and glossy shine. If you’re one who likes glossy finish lipsticks but want something to give visible coverage these are it. They have more coverage than the Rouge Dior Baumes but have that same glossy finish. These have a semi-thick almost gel-like feel which makes the pigment adhere well to the lips. Adding a liner of course will help extend the wear but they feel very comfortable on and fade nicely. As far as I can tell there is no detectable scent.

I applied these on the arm with a lip brush because these are the types of lip colors that don’t show up well on arm swatches straight from the tube, but do on the lips:

Below, applied straight from the tube on bare lips:

Last but not least are the Dior Vernis nail polishes in Minimal and Skyline. Both look very standard in the bottles and borderline boring. I will say at first glance I thought they looked a bit unimpressive but Dior polishes rarely disappoint. In my opinion, out of all the luxury brands that have reformulated their nail polishes over the years, the Dior revamp has been the best. Formula has always been top notch with a smooth, glossy flawless finish. They improved the brush by rounding the tips so application is really easy. Minimal is a perfect creamy beige peachy nude. Good nudes can be hard to find and this one brightens the hands without looking too pale. Skyline is a gorgeous chocolate cream, also not the most unique color but it has the perfect mix of brown and vamp to give the hands a perfectly polished look.

A lot of you have asked for nail comparisons – I’m fresh out of nail wheels so I will post comparisons in a separate post as soon as I get them in the mail. I will say right now though that Minimal is almost an exact dupe for Chanel’s discontinued Secret (the Dior is a bit brighter and has smoother/better coverage) and by comparison Chanel’s discontinued Emprise is a lot peachier and darker.

Two coats in sunlight:

Two coats of Skyline:

Bottom line gorgeous. Top three stand outs to me are the Diorskin Nude Air Luminzer 001 and Dior Vernis in Skyline and Minimal. The Addict Hydra-Gel Core Mirror Shine Lipsticks comes in close fourth for formula – right now I’m still in the summer state of mind but I think Sophisticated is perfect for fall. Quality-wise everything is excellent. Pigment on everything is rich and visible on the skin but easy to blend and layer for those who like a natural refined beauty look. If you buy just one item I would say go for the highlighter unless you already have a lot and don’t feel the need for one more in which case I would say opt for the Minimal nail polish. It’s a great everyday neutral that will give the hands a clean polished look.

Dior is offering an exclusive promo for Beauty Look Book readers. Dior.com usually offers complimentary samples with any online order but starting today through the end of the month they are giving my readers extra deluxe samples. With any $100+ purchase using code BEAUTYLB at Dior.com you will get some extra deluxe minis including a 5 ml Miss Dior Absolutely Blooming fragrance, mini Hydralife Sleeping Mask packette and mini Diorshow Maximizer 3D. Code is valid today through 8/31/2016, while supplies last (U.S. site only).

You can find the Dior Skyline Collection for fall available now online at Dior.com and at all Dior counters. All the items are limited-edition. Have you checked out the fall pieces yet? What did you think? If you haven’t, what’s on your wishlist?

Skyline Collection provided courtesy of Dior for review consideration. Many thanks to Dior for providing my readers with a special promo code!

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Uncategorized

Formula X #ColorCurators Makeup By Rose XOXO Edition

August 21, 2016

The latest launch of Formula X #ColorCurators caught my eye in stores with three fall-perfect opaque cream colors for the nails. For the month of August Formula X teamed up with Rose Siard of Makeup By Rose XOXO. After testing out the first month’s launch I decided to pass on all the other collections launched each month as none of the colors seemed to jump out to me. Seeing the three Makeup By Rose colors in store immediately stood out though. I swatched them in store before deciding to purchase all three and was impressed with how opaque the colors were.

There are three colors in the Makeup By Rose XOXO Edition ($12.50 each, limited-edition, exclusive to Sephora). The colors are all full-coverage creams and are one-coat wonders. The only thing that prevents me from giving these a 100% thumbs up is the brush. I’ve tried Formula X a number of times before in different formulas and don’t know why I seemed to have issues with this launch. Perhaps it’s due to the fact that I’ve been playing with other brands recently and have been completely spoiled by the perfect nail brushes from Dior Nail Polish and Louboutin Nail Colors.

With a little bit of practice I can get smooth even coverage. It took a few tries and a few re-do attempts. The brushes just aren’t as good as other brands like OPI, Chanel, Dior or Louboutin in the sense that those brands have bristles that are evenly cut and well put together. The ones from this batch of Formula X seem by comparison unevenly arranged, cut and just not as well made. It’s possible I got a bad batch. However I will note that I’ve been testing out the new System Xcel Set as well and 2 of the 3 items have poorly made brushes as well (review on this soon) which surprised me because I consider the Original System to be almost holy grail material for me.

Onto the three colors, up first is Mahhvelous Rose which is the perfect mauve rose. On my complexion it darkens a bit once it dries. I think this will look absolutely amazing on tan to deep skintones. I like it on my skin right now for a pretty polished rose look. I’ve actually been searching for a shade like this for a long time, but one that is about 1 to 1.5x lighter. Still this one is pretty darn good. Out of the three this had the best formula in terms of application.

Swatched with two coats:

Next is Puffin! which I think has the cutest name. It’s one of those gorgeous grey mink shades that has enough cool tones to prevent it from being too brown, khaki or beige. On my skin for some reason it pulls more cool-toned once it dries. It’s probably the olive in my skin that makes colors like these look a bit more cool than neutral. It’s not too dark and not too light. In my book it’s perfect color-wise (just wish the brush was better!).

Swatched with two coats + the System Xcel Top Coat:

Last but not least is Acoustic Dreams which is a one-coat wonder. It’s chocolate vamp perfection. In terms of vamp colors it’s pretty standard, but for those who want a less expensive alternative to vamp shades from Dior, Chanel or Louboutin, this is definitely a good one to check out.

Swatched with just one coat plus the System Xcel Top Coat:

One last look below:

I’m really particular with nail colors and nail polish formulas. I know we all have our favorites. OPI and Essie seem to be really popular favorites among my readers but for me they never last more than 3 days (Essie gets tip wear within 4 hours for me, no matter what base/top coat combo I use whether it’s the same brand, Seche Vite, Chanel, CND etc). My favorite brands for lasting power, finish, formula and brush are still Dior, Chanel and Louboutin. Formula X also is one of those brands I can get up to 7 days of wear without chipping or tip wear. You absolutely need a good base and top coat though – I find the System base and top coats work well (original version reviewed a few years ago here).

For those who want to try something different from Essie or OPI but don’t want to pay a high price tag, I do think Formula X has some solid colors to check out. For this month’s launch – the colors are perfect enough to make up for the less than stellar brushes (at least for me) and pretty enough to be worth the extra effort. I am happy with my purchase even though they were more of impulse buys in store.

You can find the Formula X #ColorCurators Makeup By Rose XOXO Edition exclusively at Sephora. All shades are limited-edition.

Have you tried these yet? Or any of the other colors from previous #ColorCurators launches? What did you think? P.S. Many of you have asked if I’ll be reviewing Dior or Chanel fall, in particular the new nail polishes that have launched – the answer is yes!

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