I’m not much for blues but one swatch of Paul & Joe’s summer blue nail polish in Oasis 006 and I was sold. It’s a lovely shade of soft iridescent blue and if you like Chanel’s Nouvelle Vague you will like this one too. I purchased this at the Paul & Joe boutique on Robertson Blvd and it was wrapped in a pretty white bag with ribbon.
All the Paul & Joe Sahara Collection Summer Nail Polishes, l to r: Marrakesh 004, Mirage 005, Oasis 006 (see swatches of Marrakesh/Mirage here)
Comparisons to a few other blues, l to r: Chanel Azur, Chanel Nouvelle Vague, Paul & Joe Oasis, Chanel Blue Wish
Paul & Joe Oasis vs. Chanel Nouvelle Vague (the other 2 are really sheer and show up basically clear)
Paul & Joe nail polishes usually retail for $14 each, however I think the one I purchased was priced slightly higher for some reason. I am trying to find my receipt to find the exact price – will update when I find it!
Paul & Joe has opened up its first flagship store in the US on Robertson Boulevard and I was thrilled to be able to take a mini road trip to Beverly Hills/West Hollywood this past weekend to visit the boutique! The staff was lovely and I was absolutely smitten with the store design and layout. Being enamored (borderline obsessed) with the beauty line, I was hoping to see the entire cosmetic line at the boutique, but I found that right now, the store’s main focus is on clothing and accessories. They do however carry a few select cosmetic items including the new Summer Sahara collection (photos included below). Will they carry the full beauty line? I am keeping my fingers crossed that they will eventually!
It was my first time seeing Paul & Joe apparel in person. I thought the children’s line was to die for and I was enamored with their sunglasses and display cases. The store carries all the Paul & Joe lines which includes the following:
Paul & Joe Men’s (Homme)
Paul & Joe Women’s (Femme)
Paul & Joe Sister (Contemporary)
Little Paul & Joe (children’s line)
Paul & Joe Accesories (which includes jewelry, bags, shoes and sunglasses)
I checked out the other summer items and left with Oasis Nail Polish (review + more photos to come soon). There were a few glosses I had my eye on but decided to wait. The summer powders were matte and as I am expecting to get more color this summer, decided to wait and stick with my current Chanel, Laura Mercier and D&G powders. The new shimmer oil is very interesting – it has a jelly like texture and doesn’t feel oily like most body oils. The scent is divine and left my arm feeling hydrated and fresh, like I had just misted it with a water spray. I’m not a fan of body shimmer (although I have been intrigued by this one, NARS Body Glow and the new one from MAC) so I passed.
I hope my photos give you a taste of the store! Words or photos cannot describe how chic it is inside. It’s a small location, but the layout gives it that quaint, special and intimate feel. If you are in LA or visit soon, definitely check out their boutique!
Have any of you checked out the new Summer Sahara Collection from Paul & Joe yet? The standout for me is the lovely packaging in a turquoise, cream, orange and brown colored floral almost fan-like print. I had ordered a few lipsticks from BG during their last GWP event but at that time they didn’t have the nail polishes in. I recently saw that Beautyhabit was also doing a promotion and was ecstatic to find they received the nail polishes just last week. I haven’t been able to see the entire line in person yet (hopefully soon). But here are my picks plus the gifts from both Bergdorfs and Beautyhabit. My gloss and lipliner picks from the summer release was reviewed a few days ago here.
Lipstick S in Caravan 001 (sheer light pink shimmer) Lipstick S in Morocco 003 (sheer bronzey pink brown)
Nail Enamel in Marrakesh 004 (coral-red with gold shimmer) Nail Enamel in Mirage 005 (shimmery beige gold with silver sparkles)
The Gift With Purchase Makeup Bags (Left from Beautyhabit, Right from Bergdorfs)
Lipstick Size Comparisons (seasonal v regular)
Nail Polish Comparisons, Close Ups and Swatches
Again, the packaging is the best part of this collection. I’ve only tried the sheer pink lipstick and it has a sheer glossy finish with noticeable shimmer (not frost though). I plan on trying out the bronzey one in the next few days. I absolutely love the Mirage 005 Nail Polish. It’s similar to P&J Gilded 27 except the new Mirage 005 is more beigey. The coral Marrakesh 004 Nail Polish is lovely too, but I’m not used to coral-orangey reds. Perhaps it will look better on the toes.
I decided to do a different twist on my regular monthly Ten Things I’m Loving Right Now and combine this with my color focus feature. I like soft pinks because they always look so pretty in the compact and tubes. But finding a good soft pink can be a bit tricky sometimes. I can’t tell you how many soft pinks have made me oooohh and aaaahhh only to find it looks way to light or washed out on my skin (ala MAC Hue/Angel Lipstick or Trish McEvoy Gorgeous Demure Lipstick). It still doesn’t stop me from trying to make them work though, lol. That being said, the products listed below are my no-fail and no-tweaking required soft pinks.
There are so many favorites, but these are the ones I’ve been using a lot in the past month. I am actually just starting my 3rd tube of MAC Fabby (see below)! Laura Mercier Babydoll Lip Glace is a favorite that looks good on practically all my friends whether they are fair skinned or tanned.
Blush & Highlighters:
Dior Rose Diamond MAC Well Dressed MAC Summer Rose Beauty Powder (this was repromoted with the Liberty of London Collection in a different compact)
Chanel Rouge Coco in Rose Comete (swatched here) MAC Frost Lipstick in Fabby D&G Shine Lipstick in Soiree (swatched here)
Lip Swatches:
Nail Polishes:
Paul & Joe Poodle #10 Zoya Jessika Chanel Mica Rose
I have many more favorites but if I featured all my loves, this would just be a never-ending article if I pulled every single soft pink from my stash. What are some of your favorites and what is your skintone?
FYI, in case you’re new to my blog, I’m a Chanel Shell 1.5 Teint Innocence right now. This is the equivalent to what’s right in between MAC NC30 and NC35. I’m at that point again where I’m in between shades for most foundation lines. You can see My Foundation Shades HERE. I recently tried Bobbi Brown’s newest foundation and found a perfect match in Natural Finish formula shade 4.25 Natural Tan, however the formula didn’t work so well with my skin. So far, Chanel Teint Innocence and Lift Lumieres and DPFs are my holy grails.
Paul & Joe has released a new collection of lipglosses and double sided lipliners this summer. I was lucky enough to preview the demo products before the official launch back in March and was smitten with the colors and formulas. I was able to get a few sneak peek photos as well (featured here) – which just added to my excitement even more. Unfortunately, I believe I may have swatched the lipliner shades in the wrong order since the colors I wrote down don’t match the descriptions/products on the official Paul & Joe Website.
I ordered a few of the new lipliners and glosses (both retail for $22 each) for the BG summer event and got a cute GWP bag, I’ll feature more pics of it when I write about their summer collection (check back in a few days) but Haru from Rouge Deluxe also got a similar gift from her recent event, although I have to say the contents of her GWP was a much better deal. See her review/haul here.
What I picked up, left to right, with descriptions:
Check out the Paul & Joe Website for more pics/swatches here. The wand lipglosses come with a brush tip which I really like and find easy to apply. The texture is smooth and shiny (non-sticky) and have a slight melon scent that fades within a few minutes. The lighter shades seem sheerer, the brighter shades have more color.
The lipliners are to die for in my opinion. They have one glossy side and one more matte side. They are really creamy and glide on like a dream. I definitely need to check out the other shades again soon.
The new lipglosses are similar to the old, except the floral pattern is now embossed. I don’t have a lot of the older wand lipglosses, so I’m not sure if other colors are repromotes, but I did find their Old 04 similar to the new 02. You can see the other shades I have linked here.
Close Up with High Flash:
Close Up in Natural Sunlight:
Overall I like these a lot. A bit high in price IMHO, but I like the packaging and texture of the lipliners and glosses. The lighter shades seem like they’ll be too sheer to wear on their own, but they are still really pretty. If you like Chanel Aqualumiere Glosses, then you’ll like these new ones from Paul & Joe. They have a really nice smooth texture with a pretty finish. Even though they seem on the sparkley side, there is no grittiness which is always a plus.
I intended to get a mani/pedi with one of the shades I featured from my last week’s post, but I never made it to the nail salon. By the time I had a free moment to go, I had completely changed my mind on colors due to the fact I am the most indecisive when it comes to nail colors. They all look so pretty, I can never decide, so always bring 2-3 bottles with me to either:
A) Decide at the last minute, or B) Ask the salon which color they recommend
I brought Rococo Organza and Paul & Joe 02 Heirloom with me and could not decide on a color, so the nail aesthetician said, “why not use both?” I happily agreed. She applied a layer of Rococo Organza on the bottom (which applied like a dream) and then two coats of Paul & Joe 02 Heirloom on top.
The result = a very natural and conservative barely-there nail look that is both interview and work appropriate.
Rococo Organza is a soft nude pink with opal iridescence. However, there was a slight difference from the one I purchased compared to the tester at SpaceNK (which was a nude with gold shimmer much like Essie’s Chips-No-Potatoes). You can see other swatches of Organza linked here.
Paul & Joe Heirloom 02 is a sheer transparent champagne-gold with the most gorgeous microglitters. I don’t know if you can tell from the swatch photos, but if you look really close at the fingers, it just looks magical. I believe Paul & Joe 02 Heirloom is discontinued, but you should still be able to find it. There are similar shades that you can see in my post here on Paul & Joe Nail Enamels.
Together, the colors are very sheer and give that barely-there look. While it may seem too natural to some, it will definitely suit those who aren’t a fan of having noticeable color on their fingers. I know DH approves. He’s not a fan of bright colors on my fingers, but tolerates it, lol.
Another request I received from my February survey was to write an article on what I use in my current skincare routine. This is a tough issue for me to write about because my skin is so finicky that I often change up products as soon as I finish using something up. Also, I haven’t found many holy grails which means I rarely repurchase a skincare item. Quite a few of my favorites have been discontinued (such as the Chanel Age Delay line, Shiseido’s original Pureness line before it was revamped and reformulated and Prescriptives Super Line Smoothing Cleanser).
Also, I know this is a no-no, but I don’t really take good care of my skin. Yes, I wash every morning and evening and tone afterwards. But I don’t always scrub, moisturize, mask or use sunscreen. So do please note, I am probably not the best resource for your skincare questions or advice. But at least 4 of you asked for skincare posts, so here it is!
My skin-type is overall normal, but super sensitive. I get breakouts occasionally, maybe once every other month and it typically takes a week for my skin to clear up. Considering that I’m pretty low maintenance with my skincare routine, I suppose I have decent skin. It’s by no means perfect – but this is something due to my own neglect.
I’ve used a variety of brands from Johnson & Johnson, Neutrogena, Clinique, La Mer, La Prairie, Shiseido, Awake, NARS, Chanel, Estee Lauder, Paul & Joe, MAC, Prescriptives, Laura Mercier etc. So the range is from the drugstore product to the luxury lines. Skincare always intrigues me, but I am the biggest skeptic when it comes to those product descriptions and marketing campaigns claiming “best product.” I’m not am expert with ingredients, so if something claims to have some protein complex from an exotic plant that comes from the rain forest, I really have no idea how to process that information much less interpret how it will benefit me as a consumer.
This is what I’m using right now:
Cleanser – I typically like gel cleansers but my current ones are foaming/creamy:
Clinique Rinse Off Foaming Cleanser ($18.50 for 5 fl oz)- Foaming cream-mousse cleanser which is effective in cleansing but not too strong. My husband loves this stuff too.
NARS Balancing Foam Cleanser ($35.00 for 4.4 oz/125 ml) – Another foaming cleanser which is nice, I wouldn’t recommend it for dry skin, it’s not too strong for me, but it does strip away quite a bit in the cleansing process, I use this in the evenings. One thing I love about this is a little goes a long way. You only need a pea-sized amount.
Toner – I like that fresh clean feeling, so I tend to stay away from Shiseido toners or ones that have a gel-like texture or ones that are too strong which sting the skin:
La Mer The Tonic ($60.00 for 6.7 fl oz) – This is pricey, but I’ve repurchased this at least 6 times. It’s soothing and leaves your skin feeling refreshed and clean.
Paul & Joe Refreshing Skin Toner ($33.00 for 200 ml) – I’ve written about this before, but I tried this from a mini sized sample I received in a GWP. I took it with me on a trip to DC and fell in love. I think this is a good one for normal to dry skin. It’s not too rich, but just rich enough to help rebalance your skin. Whenever I get that over-washed tight feeling in my skin, this helps make your face feel more normal. I hope they never discontinue or reformulate this. I am on my second full sized bottle right now.
Scrub – I don’t scrub a lot. I actually like to use a washcloth to scrub my face with soap and water because I feel like it’s less harsh feeling on my skin. I have purchased a few from Laura Mercier, Clinique, Shiseido in the past, but right now I’m not using any. I’ve contemplated getting a Clarisonic but again, the ultimate skin-care skeptic that I am, I don’t know that I believe all the rave reviews are from actual consumers like you and me. If anyone has a recommendation, I’m all ears!
Mask – Again, I don’t use face masks very often. As you will read below, I don’t really use these masks for their intended purpose.
NARS Mud Mask ($45.00 for 3.6 oz/100 ml) – I’ve gone through 2 of these since NARS first released his skincare line. I have to admit I like this the most for the fun-factor. Yes, I’m weird, but there’s something I find fun about slathering your face with this thick black greyish mud. I can’t tell the visible difference it makes for my skin, but it does leave my face feeling clean and refined after 10-15 minutes. Scares the bejesus out of my dogs when I put it on though.
MAC Volcanic Ash Thermal Mask ($20 for 100 ml/3.4 fl oz) – This is my favorite mask ever and one I can definitely see results with. It’s so great I have to hide it from my husband who loves the fact that it heats up. Dear MAC, if you read this at all – please release this again in the exact same formula!
Paul & Joe Treatment Peel-Off Mask ($45 for 120 ml) – This tightens and firms the skin by clarifying. Similar to the NARS Mud Mask, I like this for the peel-off factor which I find fun. I had an obsession with peeling off dried glue from my fingers when I was in art class during grade school. Clearly I was not the brightest crayon in the box when it came to school. I would say this product is definitely not for dry skin.
Miscellaneous – I don’t have a current moisturizer favorite. I’m actually testing out a few sample minis but have yet to find one that doesn’t cause an allergic reaction and one that’s not too heavy. I’ve used La Mer’s Lotion, Shiseido White Lucent, Estee Lauder’s Ultimate Youth Cream, Dior Capture Totale, Px, Armani Crema Nera to name a few. Right now I’m trying to find one that doesn’t break the bank. I just cannot justify spending over $100 on a face lotion! My eye cream and sunscreen picks:
NARS Nourishing Eye Cream ($76 for .5 oz/15 ml) – Yes this is super pricey for the amount you get but a little seriously goes a REALLY long way. It’s a lightweight gel that I like to use on my lids which actually helps my shadow stay on longer throughout the day if I use this as a base. I don’t have eye wrinkles, so I can’t say whether or not it helps with fine lines or not.
Chanel UV Essential ($52 for 1 oz) – Again pricey, but this goes a long way too. It has a very fluid texture which helps it apply really easily. I’ve been using this over my moisturizer samples and it seems to help make the foundation apply better on the skin and last longer. Bonus is that it has SPF 50 which is something I definitely should start using. I’ve used this for about a month daily and no irritations, breakouts or problems. I definitely see myself repurchasing this in the future.
If any of you would like to share your holy grails for skincare, I’d love to hear your recommendations! I’ve been told (by the brand reps of course) that the 2-week skincare systems from Shiseido and Chanel are amazing and will give me perfect glowing skin, but I don’t want to spend the $200+ and wait 2+ weeks to see if there are any results.
