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Nail Polish

Christian Louboutin

Christian Louboutin Beauté Scarabée

July 9, 2015

Christian Louboutin Beauté released a new limited-edition Scarabée Collection inspired by Louboutin’s love of Egypt. There are three colors ($50 each) that have a soft shimmery multi-dimensional chrome effect. I saw the preview of these while I was in Europe. On our last day in Paris one of the Louvre Carousel Shops had the three new colors on display. I didn’t purchase them there but ordered them online and they arrived at my home the same day I came back to the US. Below you can see the three new colors at the top of the display along with all the nudes, pops and noirs. (For reference all the nudes reviewed and swatched here.)

All three come cased in a pretty brown carton embossed with a gold
scarab motif on the outside. The handles are lacquered with a coat of
warm gold colored caps. Each color flashes different colors as you move
your hand and the lacquer reflects with the light. In the bottles they
look duo-chrome which can look sharp once you apply them on the nails.
On the hands the color softens because the shimmer is very fine and all
the colors blend together beautifully. All are metallics but brush
strokes aren’t visible and the application is very smooth. Colors are sheer with the first coat with a jelly finish. Two coats gives full coverage but three coats will make the color deeper and richer. I’ve swatched each color with two coats.

Scarabée I is described as a soft metallic flecked with shades of rose and gold
Scarabée II is described as a deep blue with flashes of purple, emerald and gold
Scarabée II is described as a bronze with highlights of green and blue

Louboutin shot a few fun collage images for each shade. I’ll include one for each color along with a close up and swatches. Scarabée I is a warm rose gold. It’s iridescent and flashes a tiny bit of gold and olive depending on how the light hits the nails. On the fingers it’s like a pink red sunset.

Scarabée II is a metallic teal blue. I thought it would be similar to Chanel Azure or Bel-Argus. It has a similar vibe but it’s more of a cross between the two with less visible brush strokes. I’m wearing this right now on the toes and it’s a fun color for summer. It has a teal base with flashes of purple and deep blue and some silver.

Scarabée III is a stunning warm bronze gold with hints of olive shimmer. I thought it would be a dupe for Chanel Peridot, but it’s actually noticeably different. (Comparison swatches below.) I have a hard time pulling off anything with green or yellow undertones on my nails because it makes my olive skin look sallow or yellow. Scarabée III is quite pretty.

Comparison swatches below:

Louboutin Scarabée I
Rescue Beauty Lounge Elvis in the Cloud (swatched here)
Rescue Beauty Lounge Bonne Journée (swatched here)
Louboutin Scarabée II
Chanel Azure and Bel-Argus (discontinued, reviewed here)
Louboutin Scarabée III
Chanel Peridot (discontinued)
Chanel Alchimie (reviewed here)

At $50 each, Louboutin Polishes are a luxurious splurge. They are extremely pricey but I am really happy and pleased with all three shades I purchased. I found each of the three colors unique with a really smooth easy to apply formula. The texture is the perfect density for thin coats that are easy to layer. The dry time is fairly quick and two to three coats gives the nails a lush glossy lacquered look. I can’t pick a favorite out of the three although the teal blue Scarabée II keeps catching my eye (I have it on my toes and keep staring at them). All three are limited-edition colors and I suspect they will sell out (a quick search shows some have already sold out on a few sites). You can find them at Louboutin Beaute retailers. Online while supplies last at Nordstrom, Saks Fifth Avenue, Neiman Marcus, Bergdorf Goodman and Christian Louboutin.

Have you checked out the Scarabée Collection yet? What did you think? Did you splurge on any?

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Tom Ford Beauty

Tom Ford Beauty Relaunches: Nude Dip, Sugar Dune, Black Sugar, Black Cherry and Show Me The Pink

May 28, 2015

This month Tom Ford Beauty has relaunched several previously limited-edition items. If you missed out on Nude Dip Eyeshadow Quad, the great news is that it is back and now permanent! This is one of my favorite shimmery neutral eyeshadow palettes. I am beyond thrilled that it has been re-introduced.

Here’s what has been brought back and added to the permanent Tom Ford Beauty lineup:

You can find Tom Ford Beauty at select counters. Online at Nordstrom, Neiman Marcus, Saks Fifth Avenue, Bloomingdale’s and Bergdorf Goodman. If you missed out on any of these colors in the original rounds, I hope you can rest assured you can find them now!

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New Dior Vernis Shades: Tie-Dye Summer 2015 and Peter Philips Collection 2015

May 27, 2015

Dior has some new shades of the Dior Vernis Gel-Shine Long Wear Nail Lacquer out this summer. I have four that I picked out and have swatches to share today. Two of the shades are from the Tie-Dye Collection for Summer 2015 in Sunkissed #239 and Sunwashed #319. The other two are Dior.com exclusives from the Peter Philips Collection called NYC Peach #130 and BKLYN Pink #560 (all $27 each for 10 ml/.33 fl oz).

The four shades are all on the lighter or neutral side, I ordered all of these sight unseen although by now the Summer Collection shades should be readily available at all Dior counters.

  • NYC Peach is a light medium peach cream with a very tiny hint of shimmer
  • BKLYN Pink is a medium neutral rose pink that pulls slightly cool-toned
  • Sunkissed is a soft light peach with a subtle brightening effect
  • Sunwashed is a light summery yellow cream

On me, NYC Peach is very similar to Sunkissed. They are almost identical. NYC Peach is darker by maybe 1/2 to 3/4 a shade. By comparison Sunkissed almost looks pinkish when you put them side by side. Of course, I can’t pick between the two. They both go on super smooth and give the hands a brightened effect which I find is rare with peachy cream shades. They are both beautiful colors, I don’t think you need both.

A few close ups along with finger swatches. All swatches have two coats of the nail polish: 

A full nail wheel of comparison swatches:

I’ve never been a fan of yellow nail polishes, but Sunwashed is a fun color that’s different and light. It is unique and I think appropriate for summer even for the nail polish wearers that wear neutrals – I think it’s fun on the toes. For peach colors, both Sunkissed and NYC Peach are phenomenal colors. If you’re like me, you probably find many peach colors pull brown or warm on the skin and can make the hands look sallow. Both of the new Dior shades have a good mix of white and bright in them that bring life to the hands while still looking peachy. BKLYN Pink didn’t impress me as much when I first applied it. It grew on me as the week progressed. I think it’s a fairly standard pink rose color. I would have loved it if it had some shimmer mixed in or if it was a bit brighter in color. In direct sunlight it looks lovely and bright. In regular light it’s a bit dull-looking (at least on me).

Although Sunkissed and NYC Peach are very similar, I give them both a huge thumbs up. In terms of formula, all of these performed true to Dior’s classic high quality style. Two coats will cover the nail fully and the formula is ultra smooth free of any streaks. Lasting power is very good on me, similar to that of Chanel which lasts 5+ days without tip wear as long as I use a good base and top coat. (My favorite tried and true here.)

You can find the Summer 2015 Nail Lacquers in Sunkissed and Sunwashed at all Dior counters now. Online at Nordstrom, Macy’s, Saks Fifth Avenue, Neiman Marcus, and Dior.com.
NYC Peach and BKLYN Pink are exclusive to Dior.com.
It appears all the shades are limited-edition. Have you checked out any of these yet? What did you think? Did you splurge on any of the colors?

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Chanel Collection Méditerannée Summer 2015 Le Vernis: Terrana, Lavanda, Coquelicot, Méditerannée

May 14, 2015

For the summer Collection Méditerannée Chanel has released four limited-edition Le Vernis Nail Colours in vibrant summery shades ($27 each for 13 ml/0.4 fl oz). The four colors include:
  • Terrana 697 is a cool-toned bronzey plum metallic which smooth shimmer
  • Méditerannée 707 is a bright cream sea blue
  • Coquelicot 717 is a vibrant warm jelly red
  • Lavanda 721 is a bright jelly purple cream
Based on what they look like in the bottle my first impressions were that three of them looked like standard brights while Terrana appeared to be a murky bronze. Of course once you swatch them on the nails, they look quite stunning. Chanel always manages to mix up the most beautiful nail polish colors that have a unique twist making them extremely flattering against the skin.

Terrana is a cool-toned bronze. It’s a metallic color but the shimmer is pretty smooth with minimal brush strokes showing through. You do need two coats. It has a slight jelly finish making it look lush and ultra glossy on the nails.

Some comparisons swatched below:

Mediterranee is a beautiful bright blue. It has a tiny bit of teal but still pulls more towards a cooler-toned blue. I don’t usually like to wear bright blues on the nails but this one has enough cool undertone and depth to prevent it from looking over the top bright. This one is my favorite in the collection.

Coquelicot is jelly red perfection in a bottle. Every time Chanel releases a new red, I swear it is the best red they’ve made. It is very similar to Enthusiast and some other warm reds but I can’t ever resist a red from Chanel. This one has a bit of warmth. The texture is a bit thin but applies like magic with one coat. I like two for richer coverage but this one is really good even with one.

Lavanda is the one my local Chanel reps were most excited about at the counter. It’s a stunning purple cream. Mine seemed to apply a bit thick but there weren’t any application issues and with two coats I was able to achieve full coverage. This one still has a semi-jelly finish so if you’re rushed you may still see some of the nail show through. For Lavanda, I think you need to wait for the first coat to dry completely before applying the second coat.

Bottom line all four = pure love for me. I’m a die hard Chanel Le Vernis fan at heart and these four are exceptionally beautiful. In my book they area all must haves but if I had to skip one color it would be the red Coquelicot mainly because I have so many other reds from Dior and Chanel that are similar. Out of all four my favorite is the blue one Mediterranee – it’s such a pretty deep but bright blue. I think it’s backup-worthy.
You can find the Chanel Summer Collection now at all counters and boutiques. I bought mine from Nordstrom. Also online at Neiman Marcus, Saks, Bloomingdales and Chanel.com.
Have you checked out Chanel Summer yet? What did you pick up?

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Tom Ford Beauty

Tom Ford Spring 2015 Nail Lacquers: Indigo Night + Black Jade

April 8, 2015

This season Tom Ford Beauty has two new nail polishes that are quite edgy and unique for spring. The two Nail Lacquers in the spring collection are Indigo Night and Black Jade ($32 each), both have opaque full coverage with two coats and apply very smoothly on the nail. It took me a while to cave on these because I normally don’t wear greens on the nails and I already own quite a few navy shimmer polishes, but after swatching these I am glad I did buy both.

Black Jade is a deep complex green color. There is quite a bit of color mixed into the bottle making it quite unique and dramatic on the fingers. This one is quite dark so it almost looks black on the nails with a hint of forest green and shimmer if your hands are in natural light. This particular color was sold out at the counters near me, I was glad to have found it online at Neimans before it sold out. Right now it’s still available at Nordstrom and Bloomingdale’s.

Indigo Night is actually my favorite of the two. Even though I think a navy blue shimmer is something that is quite standard in many beauty lines, this one is particularly stunning. It has a brightness to the blue with some iridescence to it so it’s not as deep as others. In natural light you can see that it’s definitely a blue color but at the same time very deep. With this one the first coat will appear a bit sheer and see-thru but it smooths out completely to a full flawless finish with the second coat.

Both colors are very different from what you usually see in the traditional spring color palette, but I like them both. The colors are sharp and edgy without being over the top making them very wearable for me. For reference, Color Me Loud has comparison swatches (my nail wheels are currently MIA). For other Tom Ford Beauty spring features, my review on the Eye Color Duos here and Spring Cream Shadow here. I give the nail polishes a thumbs up although I have to say previews of the Summer collection have my heart racing and it can’t arrive soon enough (I’ve been stalking it online).

The Tom Ford Spring 2015 Collection is available now, while supplies last. I’ve been told at the counters the nail polishes are limited-edition, but I’m not 100% sure. Black Jade is still available at Nordstrom and Bloomingdales. Indigo Night is still relatively easy to track down also at Neiman Marcus, Saks Fifth Avenue, and Tom Ford.
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Rescue Beauty Lounge Je t’aime, Je’ t’aime!

March 23, 2015

Rescue Beauty Lounge has released six new beautiful polishes in the Je t’aime, Je’ t’aime! Collection inspired by Ji Baek’s love for Paris (the full story on the Rescue Beauty Lounge blog). I have four of the colors to share today. Each color retails for $20 and they will be available for pre-sale online starting tomorrow, March 24th at 12:00 PM EST through March 26th to those signed up for her newsletter. Available for everyone else starting April.

The four colors, are as usual, are true to Rescue Beauty Lounge’s style which is edgy perfection. I’ve mentioned this before, but Ji Baek is a true innovator when it comes to mixing up unique colors. She’s done it yet again with beautiful shades for spring. I can’t wait to see the other two that are part of her collection (to be released mid-April).

Close ups and swatches of each color:

C’Est Tout is a metallic green grey silvery color. It’s a complex color that flashes different colors depending on how the light hits it. This one is my favorite of the bunch. It reminds me of Chanel Black Pearl but with more silver and grey and it’s more metallic.

From Rescue Beauty Lounge:



This color is a rivalry between gunmetal and green, for sometimes it appears to be a dark gray with blue undertones and in another moment, you will see a green with micro shimmers of pink, blue, and gold. If you are ever asked, “Avec Ça?” You should answer with a resounding, “That’s all!”

Bonne Journee is an ultra-girly pink. It has a slight jelly finish where the pearl looks like it’s suspended in a gel-like polish. It flashes bright pink, silver, a bit of blue. It’s extremely unique. Brush strokes are visible but can be smoothed out with a second coat. You do need to apply this one slowly to get smooth coverage.

From Rescue Beauty Lounge:

Have a good day is how we should all take leave of anyone—this is a happy rose pink with blue undertones and a hint of copper. The shimmery satin finish will put a smile on your face and spread happiness because it works with all sorts of skin colors. This formula just glides on. Pink has never been this good.

Pardonne Moi is a deep blue metallic. There is a brightness to it which gives it life and prevents it from looking navy on the nails. There is a soft pearly quality which gives it a bit of softness even though it’s a sharp blue metallic.

From Rescue Beauty Lounge:

This phrase somehow sounds more chic than “excuse me” when you’re bumping into people in the market. This color is a satin finish of an exceptional indigo, blue overcast with iris purple. Flashes of a beautifully generous shimmer gleams with stunning sparkles.

Last but not least is Ah, Oui which is a periwinkle cream. This one has the most smooth finish being a cream without any shimmer. It’s very bright but has enough blue in it so it doesn’t look lilac or pastel on the hands. I think this one will be fun on the toes for spring-to-summer.

From Rescue Beauty Lounge:

“Ah, yes?!” Just keep saying this if you don’t understand a thing anyone is saying—I’ve fooled so many peeps saying this while exhaling, “Pfttt!” This color epitomizes Parisian chic. It’s not blue, not purple, not gray; just picture a perfect, cloudless Parisian powdery periwinkle sky. This polish is a glasslike periwinkle cream-jelly (I’ve only a few to go to complete my rainbow of crème jellies), transparent in one coat with an exceptionally smooth application; you can even add another coat on the tips of your nails for an easy gradient effect.

One last shot, all together:

Bottom line love. Rescue Beauty Lounge never fails to release unique polishes. These four are really pretty bright spring to summer colors that are different from the classic corals, pinks or reds (which I love, but sometimes it’s nice to wear something different).

For more swatches on different skin tones and nail shapes, be sure to check out these lovely nail  polish and beauty bloggers for their posts. I have major nail envy every time I visit their pages. Their manicures are pristine!

Be sure to sign up for their newsletter on Rescuebeauty.com to stay up to date with new releases and sales. You will receive the 48 hour pre-sale link via e-mail tomorrow. If you miss this round, no need to worry as they will launch for regular purchase mid-April.

Many thanks to Rescue Beauty Lounge for sending me these polishes for review.

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Burberry Beauty Runway Nail Collection Pink Tones – Hydrangea Pink, Bright Coral Red and Pink Azalea

March 22, 2015

Burberry released a couple nail polish trios featuring new shades from the Prorsum Spring/Summer 2015 runway show back in September. There is a Pink Tones Trio with Hydrangea Pink, Bright Coral Red and Pink Azalea and a Blue Tones Trio with Stone Blue, Aqua Green and Imperial Blue ($66 each trio). Both are exclusive to Burberry.com but you can buy the colors individually at Nordstrom and Saks. I ordered the Pink Tones not realizing it included a color I already owned Pink Azalea which is a re-promoted color from Summer Showers collection. I have swatches of all three to share today plus some comparisons.

Hydrangea Pink is a really pretty medium-toned rose pink. Sometimes I find it odd that finding the perfect classic medium pink is difficult to come across, many are too warm, too coral, too red, too pale, too deep. Hydrangea Pink has reached holy grail status for me as a perfect feminine medium soft rose pink. It’s in the perfect in-between mark of warm and cool making it a good neutral flattering pink. The formula on this is really good. The brushes are on the wide side but the pigment and coverage is smooth and flawless. Two coats are needed to cover the nail entirely but the finish is glossy with perfect coverage.

Bright Coral Red is my second favorite and it’s pretty bright coral red (just like the name implies). It has enough brightness to give it life and prevent it from looking dark like some reds can. At the same time it has enough red to prevent it from looking orange. Formula and coverage on this is also flawless. If you already own Lucky, Glory or some of the other corals from Dior you may want to skip this one, although the Burberry is quite bright making it slightly different from the others.

Third is Azalea Pink which is a raspberry berry pink cream. This is a re-promoted color. In case you missed the original post with the Summer Showers collection, I’ve added the swatch here again. It mimics a raspberry with just enough blue undertone to give it a pink touch.

Comparisons swatched below:

Quick closeup of the brush & bottles:

Overall beautiful classics that are easy to wear. Hydrangea Pink is the most neutral of the three options and it’s the perfect medium rosy pink. If you want something with more color Bright Coral Red is the most vibrant option that has a summery vibe. Azalea Pink is a classic raspberry cream that has a lovely blue undertone, although it’s very similar to Chanel April. In my experience lasting power is quite good with these. I can get around 5 days of wear without any tip wear or chipping. I had on Hydrangea Pink this weekend however I did ruin my nails playing frisbee this weekend and ended up chipping and breaking 3 nails (inserts a big sad face). It’s a good thing I had done a lot of nail swatching before hand (I have some exciting new polishes to share with you in the next few days).

You can find all three pinks in a 3-piece boxed set for $66 at Burberry.com. Also individually for $22 each at Burberry, Nordstrom and Saks Fifth Avenue.

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