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Spring 2015

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Chantecaille The Glacier Eye Shade Trio and Arctic Rose Hydra Chic Lipstick / Spring 2015

February 17, 2015

For spring Chantecaille has launched a palette called The Glacier Eye Shade Trio ($70 for 7 g/0.25 oz, made in USA). I picked this up at my local  Chantecaille counter and saw a few lip items featured on the new display. There are two Galactic Lip Shine Lip Glosses ($34 each) in Aurora (sheer pink) and Polaris (sparkling white) and two Hydra Chic Lipsticks ($36 each) in Arctic Rose and Saxifrage. I haven’t been up to speed with Chantecaille for a while so I’m not entirely sure if the colors are new or repromoted colors. I picked up the Glacier Eye Shade Trio and Arctic Rose Hydra Chic Lipstick. Thoughts, review and swatches below.

First, here is the palette and lipstick swatches side by side:

Chantecaille eyeshadow palettes are usually beautifully designed with natural-looking eye shadows. In my experience the trios I’ve bought and tested have sheer to medium pigment for a super natural look. My one rant is that they often come with an overspray which is easily removed, but it makes it difficult to see what the true color is if you order sight unseen. The Glacier Eye Shade Trio is a super soft palette of neutrals. The colors include, from left to right, a sheer to medium matte flesh/tan, an iridescent ivory that flashes gold and some champagne, a shimmering medium brown-grey. The colors when used together will create a softly defined eye that is perfect for an everyday look if you want an ultra conservative no-makeup look. I personally prefer something with richer pigment and coverage. The shades are layerable but are still ultra soft leaning more towards the sheer side. If you’re a fan of Chantecaille eyeshadows, I think you will really like this. If you’re like me and need more color, you will find pigment and coverage lacking.

With patches of overspray removed:

Swatch comparisons below to a couple other neutral palettes. Shown below next to Chanel Tisse Mademoiselle (reviewed here) and Hourglass Infinity Palette (reviewed here). I personally prefer the Chanel for something similar and with more coverage and I found the Chanel extremely natural on the eyes.

For the lips, I picked up Arctic Rose Hydra Chic Lipstick. This is an ultra moisturizing lip color with a glossy finish. I have mixed feelings about Arctic Rose in terms of formula. It has a beautiful color, naturally glossy sheen and feels amazing on the lips but the pigment is lacking. This one requires a lot of layering for me to get even and full coverage. I didn’t find it to be a good swipe and go kind of lipstick and there was missing pigment and color around the edges of my lips when I applied straight from the tube. I am a huge fan of sheer lip colors like MAC Lustres, Chanel Rouge Coco Shines, YSL Volupte Shines and even the Rouge Baume Diors – but I find they are easier to apply and give even coverage while the Chantecaille did not. That being said I do think it will wear very well over a lipliner or if you apply with a lip brush.

Here it is packed on the lips quite heavily. I’m not sure if you can tell in the photo, but around the edges, especially on the upper lip it did not apply evenly.

The Chantecaille spring collection offers nice natural colors. If you’re a fan of the super natural look, I think you will find these are perfect for you. Long-time readers know I’m one who gravitates towards natural looking colors, but I found the formulas of the Chantecaille spring line too sheer for my taste. I do think they are worth checking out though – many have commented on the lack of natural satiny or non-shimmer shadows on the market. If you’re forever searching for eyeshadow palettes that have a more natural looking finish, the Glacier Eye Trio is definitely worth looking into. My quick take, I should have probably passed on both, but somethings pretty packaging gets the best of me.

I bought my Chantecaille items from Neiman Marcus. Note there are a number of beauty events going on right now, so if you have a wish list or shopping list that is growing, be sure to check out the gift with purchases offered now. Some promos to consider:
  • Neiman Marcus beauty week, Eddie Borgo designed tote with samples, with $125+ purchase, Chantecaille gift with a $200+ purchase, details here (available thru March 1 or while supplies last)
  • Saks Fifth Avenue beauty week gift with $125 purchase includes tote + samples use code BEAUTYW2, Chantecaille gift with a $200+ purchase using code CHANTE62, details on gift here (available thru March 1 or while supplies last)
  • Space NK beauty event gift bag for 1 day, February 18th (details to come later today)

Chantecaille is also available at Nordstrom, Barneys New York, Bloomingdales, Chantecaille.com.
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Marc Jacobs Beauty

Marc Jacobs Beauty Le Marc Lip Crème

February 9, 2015

Marc Jacobs Beauty has released a new formula of lipstick called Le Marc Lip Crème ($30 each for 3.6 g / 0.12 oz). This is a one-swipe richly pigmented lipstick with a long lasting formula. The lipsticks come in 20 different shades named after iconic women that have been an inspiration to Marc Jacobs. I’m excited to share all twenty shades of Le Marc with you. In addition, I’ve teamed up with Marc Jacobs Beauty to take over their Instagram today – be sure to check out their page @marcbeauty and also my page @beautylookbook as I share more about these incredibly pigmented lip colors.

The Le Marc Lip Crème lipsticks are a full coverage lipstick designed with a semi-matte finish for a bold look. They come in the classic black lacquered tube with a magnetic clasp. Although these have a semi-matte and semi-velvety finish to them, I found the Lip Crèmes have a very slight bit sheen to them which prevents them from looking flat like most traditional mattes. All the colors are creams without shimmer yet still manage to give the lips depth. I was able to get full coverage with just one swipe although with rich colors, blending is key around the edges since the color will have a sharp contrast to your natural lip color. The texture is smooth and creamy – if your lips are on the dry side, I do recommend prepping with a balm first. The color will hug your lip which means it will adhere well and last quite a long time, but can also emphasize dry patches so be sure to have a clean and smooth lip first for the best wear.

For the color range, the Le Marc Lip Crèmes come in a variety of color options ranging from neutral pinks, to medium browns, to rich plums, hot pinks, dramatic reds and vibrant oranges. If you’re a fan of the bold lip this is a formula you are definitely going to love. Red lip fans are going to love the options of reds. There are a lot of different reds each with a slightly different undertone.

Here are all twenty shades of Le Marc all lined up. Note they are all pure crème formulas without any shimmer:

Close ups, swatches, descriptions and the inspiration behind each color (removed by request):
  • Georgie Girl is a pale cool-toned powder pink
  • Infamous is a neutral medium rose pink with a hint of mauve
  • Kiss Kiss Bang Bang is a deep vibrant rose, but still leans neutral, it’s a deeper and brighter version of Infamous
  • Boy Gorgeous is a rich plum magenta
  • Jolly Molly is a bright cool-toned pink cream

______________________________
  • Clara is a vibrant hot pink with a blue base
  • Je T’aime is a semi-muted medium coral red peach
  • Mahogany is a medium neutral brown
  • Core Cora is a vibrant hot coral that leans peach
  • So Sofia is a vibrant hot pink coral that leans a bit pink/red

    • ______________________________
    • Goddess is a deep but semi-bright brick red
    • Oh Miley! is a vibrant rich red
    • Dashing is a pigmented rich red with slight brown/brick tones 
    • Miss Scarlet is a brick red cream
    • Rei of Light is a medium red with brown tones, slightly lighter than Miss Scarlet

    Note that reds tend to pull very similar on my skin no matter what the difference in undertone is. These will probably look different on you compared to how they translate on me.

    ______________________________

    • Amazing is a deep but subdued red 
    • J’Adore is a warm medium brown
    • Magenta is a plum with a high shine
    • Blow is a medium vamp brown plum, this one has a medium slightly glossy finish making it slightly more like a stain
    • Scandal is a deep plum purple with a glossy finish, this one has a semi-transparent finish and applied more like a glossy stain on my lips

    ______________________________

    I tested these for several days and found that in a given day these did last a remarkably long time. The formula adheres well to the lips and hugs them so even after the initial color fades a little, your lips are still left with a significant amount of color. Mine lasted from early morning through several bottles of water and cups of coffee. At lunch the lip color came off mainly because I usually wipe my lips before eating but there was still a lot of color left on the lips. Without touching these they do stay put until you remove it. In terms of scent there is a very very slight hint of vanilla but it’s barely detectable so those with sensitive noses will really like that these are virtually fragrance free.

    Bottom line, 20 shades of Le Marc means there is a lot to explore. Marc Jacobs Beauty did a great job at creating a diverse color range and I think there’s at least one color to suit everyone’s likes and tastes. My personal favorites are Infamous (perfectly polished pink), Magenta (lush plum pink red), and Je T’aime (unique medium coral peach red mix).

    Close up of me applying Infamous (wearing and holding the O!Mega Bronzer)

    Below, Infamous (left) and Georgie Girl (right):

    One last shot wearing Infamous in late afternoon, still on the lips after 5 hours of wear:

    You can find all 20 shades of the Le Marc Lip Crèmes ($30 each) now online at Marc Jacobs Beauty.

    Have you checked out the Le Marc Lip Crèmes yet? Which shades are speaking to you?

    Many thanks to Marc Jacobs Beauty for sponsoring this post. For more information please refer to my disclosures.

    58 Comments
    Base Makeup NARS

    NARS All Day Luminous Weightless Foundation and Soft Velvet Loose Setting Powder

    February 7, 2015

    This spring NARS has released some new products for the face including the All Day Luminous Weightless Foundation ($48 for 1 fl oz) and the Soft Velvet Loose Setting Powder ($36 for 10 g). I’ve been testing these for a couple weeks now. I purchased the liquid foundation in store after swatching several of the shades. The NARS team kindly sent the powder for review with Beach as their best guess for my color match. Today I’ll be sharing my thoughts on the formulas, wear time, texture and swatches with comparisons.

    For quick reference, I use the foundation in Punjab and powder in Beach:

    The All Day Luminous Weightless Foundation is incredible. It has a lightweight fluid texture that gives you full coverage with one to two pumps. To me it has a similar texture to the Chanel Perfection Lumiere Velvet Foundation but has a more natural looking finish that has just the right amount of glow. On me this one covers most of my scars and imperfections flawlessly. Coverage is slightly heavier than the Tom Ford Traceless Perfecting Foundation but the overall look and effect is similar to me.

    In terms of wear, the new NARS foundation blends into the skin flawlessly without streaking or caking. It gives medium to full coverage and evens out the skin beautifully. For wear time, I found it lasted all day long without getting oily or glowy. I do think what you use underneath will make a difference, since this is on the luminous side, if you are oily you may want to go lighter on the moisturizer or base. For me, these days to prep the skin these days I’ve been using Ole Henriksen’s Pure Truth Serum and Sheer Transformation Moisturizer. Sometimes I’ll use primers and my current favorites are the NARS Pro-Prime and Tom Ford Illuminating. For me I find the texture of the NARS foundation is easy to blend so I find that it doesn’t need a primer.

    For color, I am a match to the NARS All Day Luminous Weightless Foundation in Punjab. I’ve been matched to this color in most of the formulas, it’s a good medium color with olive and yellow tones. Finding something with the right mix of olive and yellow undertone is hard for me. I’m often in between shades or find that I have to mix colors. Most foundations are not yellow enough or too olive. Punjab is the perfect match for me and I was thrilled to find that the new formula’s color to be an exact match. If you’re similar in skin tone to me but not as olive and are a bit more pink/peach go with Santa Fe. For reference, I found the swatches of all the foundation shades on Café Makeup extremely helpful.

    I have two sets of swatch comparisons below to other NARS foundations and other brands. I’ve reviewed most of the items below before. I’ll link reviews where applicable:

    • NARS Pure Radiant Tinted Moisturizer in Alaska
    • NARS Radiant Creamy Concealer in Custard and Ginger (I mix them, review)
    • NARS Pure Radiant Tinted Moisturizer in Groenland (my match)
    • NARS All Day Radiant Weightless Foundation in Punjab
    • NARS Radiant Cream Compact Foundation in Punjab (review)
    • NARS Soft Velvet Loose Powder in Beach
    • NARS All Day Luminous Powder Foundation in Punjab (review)
    • Chanel Perfection Lumiere Velvet in B30 (review)
    • Cle de Peau Beaute Cream Foundation in O30 (review)
    • Tom Ford Traceless Perfecting Foundation in Bisque 04 (review) 
    • Dolce & Gabbana Luminous Foundation in Caramel 110 (review)

    Bottom line I give the foundation a huge thumbs up. I think it’s their best foundation released to date. I’m a huge fan of the Pure Radiant Tinted Moisturizer for texture and finish but sometimes I want more coverage. The new foundation is exactly what I wanted for an amped up version of the Tinted Moisturizer. I love that there is no detectable fragrance and on me it really did last all day from morning to evening without budging or sliding.

    Next on to the powder. I tested a number of NARS powders in the old formulas at makeup events (both pressed and loose). I didn’t like any of them because I found they caked on my skin on top of foundation. It wasn’t until NARS released the Light Reflecting Loose Setting Powder that I changed my mind about their face powders. It’s one of my top picks for setting powders because it doesn’t alter the color of your foundation and even though the powder is white it doesn’t make you look like a ghost or powdery. Given my love of the reflecting powders, I was excited to try my sample of the new Soft Velvet Loose Setting Powder in Beach. After playing with this for a few weeks, I have mixed feelings.

    There are eight different colors of the loose powder. Even though I was sent Beach for review, I went to the counter to look at the shades in person to make sure it was the best color match. Eden is also very close in color but it’s more pink, while Beach is more yellow. On my skin they looked almost identical, but since I prefer yellow tones, Beach is the better of the two for me.

    The powder is a soft and lightweight with a very finely milled texture. It feels silky on the skin and truly weightless. When dusted over the All Day Weightless Luminous Foundation I found it set nicely if I applied while the foundation was still a bit dewy (as in it didn’t set all the way). A little goes a long way so you only need a sheer wash of powder to set the entire face. The powder performed well over the NARS tinted moisturizer too creating a soft sheer matte finish.

    It didn’t work so well over other foundations though and I’m not entirely sure why. It caked over the Chanel Perfection Lumiere Velvet Foundation, the Tom Ford Traceless Perfecting Foundation, Cle de Peau and also the NARS Radiant Creamy Compact Foundation. It settled into pores that seemed to be blended and covered perfectly by those foundations. My personal preference is to use the Light Reflecting Loose Powder or the All Day Luminous Powder Foundation as a setting powder. Still, I have seen some pretty good reviews on this one, if you’re near a NARS counter I recommend checking it out to see how it wears on you. My experience might not be typical with this one.

    Overall, huge thumbs up on the foundation, mixed thoughts on the powder. If you’ve tested these please share what you thought and what shade you were matched to. I know readers often need to order sight unseen and your comments on color matching are always helpful!

    You can find the NARS All Day Weightless Luminous Foundation and Soft Velvet Loose Setting powder at all NARS counters now. Online at Nordstrom, Sephora, Saks, Neiman Marcus and NARS.

    The Soft Velvet Loose Powder was provided as a press sample for review consideration. The All Day Luminous Weightless Foundation was purchased by me.

    28 Comments
    Charlotte Tilbury Skincare

    Charlotte Tilbury Lip Magic

    February 6, 2015

    Charlotte Tilbury has released a few new items this spring. One thing that caught my eye is the Lip Magic Rejuvenating, Smoothing Propolis Balm ($35 for 5 ml / 0.17 fl oz). I ordered it online from Beautylish and it arrived at my house at lightening speed. When it comes to lip balms, I’m really picky. I have sensitive lips that easily react to products with plumping properties or any kind of tingly feel (for some reason my lips go numb with Kiehl’s). I really like Charlotte Tilbury’s Magic Cream for the face so I decided to give her new Lip Magic a try. I was pleasantly surprised.

    The Lip Magic is an anti-aging lip balm that doubles as a lip primer. This one is described as having a rather fancy formula designed to seal in moisture, protect lips from the environment and also provide long-term lip healing benefits.

    I haven’t used it long enough to see any anti-aging effects but I do like it’s formula. It’s on the emollient side (versus the By Terry Baume de Rose pots or sticks which are thicker and more creamy). There is a slight floral scent to the balm. When I first smelled it I thought the fragrance would be too strong or that it could translate into something that had a bad taste. I was relieved to find that the scent is actually very soft and not overpowering. It also has no detectable taste.

    Since it’s so emollient, I was skeptical at how well this would work as a base/primer for lipstick. It works really well with the Charlotte Tilbury lipliners and lipsticks (my neutrals in Nude Kate, Hepburn Honey, Bitch Perfect, Stoned Rose, Penelope Pink and Confession swatched here). Her lipsticks are very creamy and super pigmented which I find glide on the lips well, but sometimes full coverage lipsticks can make the lips look aged if they aren’t well moisturized or prepped properly. I usually use MAC’s Prep + Prime Lip to help prepare my lips for any kind of lip product. It’s one of the few lip primers that helps smooth my lip while allowing lipstick to adhere to my lips better. The Charlotte Tilbury Lip Magic really does work to help lipstick glide on nicely – and the lipstick doesn’t slide off when layered on top. 

    Ingredients: Olus Oil, Synthetic Beeswax, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea Butter), Hydrogenated Vegetable Oil, Acacia Decurrens/Jojoba/Sunflower Seed Cera/Polyglyceryl-3 Esters, Simmondsia Chinensis (Jojoba) Seed Oil, Candelilla Wax(Cera), PPG-25-Laureth-25, Fragrance (Parfum), Pentaerythrityl Tetra-Di-T-Butyl Hydroxydrocinnamate, Tocopheryl Acetate, Cyclodextrin, Aloe Barbadensis Extract, Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Seed Oil, Propolis Extract, Tocopherol.

    The only downside is the pot is a bit small for the price. It’s compact enough to slip into a clutch or small makeup bag, but I do wish it had more product in the jar to justify the price. Still, it’s a very good lip balm and lip primer in one, so I’m not complaining.

    Bottom line it performs extremely well. It hydrates, smooths and makes the lips feel incredibly smooth. It has an emollient texture which glides on the lips and makes them feel very nice. I am really amazed at how well it works as a lip primer for her lipsticks. I also tested it with Tom Ford Lips & Boys and the new Marc Jacobs Le Marc Lip Cremes (more on this next week) and it worked well with both formulas.

    You can find the Charlotte Tilbury Lip Magic now online at Beautylish. Also at Nordstrom, Bergdorf Goodman and online at Charlotte Tilbury.
    20 Comments
    Uncategorized

    Net-A-Porter Beauty Valentine’s Day Kit

    February 3, 2015

    This year Net-A-Porter Beauty has a limited-edition Valentine’s Day Kit ($65) with nine luxury sampler-size beauty treats for skin, hair and makeup. The Net-A-Porter team was kind enough to send one as a surprise and after playing with the deluxe sized items, I can say this is a real treat. Pre-made kits can be hit or miss because we all have different tastes, preferences and likes. I have to say, Net-A-Porter did a really good job with this one. If you’re looking to treat yourself or a friend, this has really good picks.

    Inside the Valentine’s Day Kit as shown in the above photo from left to right, with thoughts on each item (for reference, full ingredient listing on each product is online at Net-A-Porter):

    • Charlotte Tilbury Magic Cream Mini (15 ml/ 0.5 fl. oz.) is a rich moisturizer cream that isn’t greasy. I have the full size although I don’t think I’ve reviewed it, I’ve found it to be very good and non-irritating for my sensitive acne-prone skin. It hydrates the skin nicely and a little goes a long way. I like that it helps balance the skin with dry and oily parts and it’s also a good skin prep product for foundation (creams, powders, liquids, compacts etc.) The only downside is that it has a strong sunscreen scent that I’m not a fan of, however it does fade after five minutes. I’m thrilled to have a mini of this because now I can travel with it.
    • Bambford Geranium Hand and Body Wash (50 ml/ 1.7 fl. oz.) is a strongly scented body wash with geranium, lavender and peppermint. It smells like a spa in a bottle. It’s very soothing and relaxing for the bath. It lathers up to a nice foam and leaves the skin feeling soft and very refreshed.
    • Jurlique Nutri-Define Retexturizing Serum (15 ml/ 0.5 fl. oz.) is the only item in the kit I haven’t tested, primarily because I’m in the middle of testing other face products at the moment. It’s supposed to be a firming and lifting skin product – if you’ve tried this one I’d love to hear your thoughts.
    • LAFCO Chamomille Lavender Soap (130 ml/ 4.5 oz.) has a bright refreshing scent that smells like a garden. There is a sweetness to it that makes it feel lightweight. I’m not typically a fan of bar soaps but this is a nice one to have in your bathroom or guest room. It makes me feel like I’m on vacation.
    • Radical Skincare Instant Revitalizing Mask (30 ml/4.5 oz.) is something that has been on my radar for a while so this kit came at the perfect time. This is one of the most fun things I’ve played with in terms of face masks. It’s a quick and easy 3-5 minute face product (huge plus). It’s a creamy liquid that turns into a white foam on the face. Once on, it foams up and bubbles with tiny little pops (don’t worry it’s ultra gentle). You rinse it off after having it on the face for a short period of time and it leaves the skin glowing and feeling completely hydrated/refreshed. 
    • Serge Normant Meta Sheer Dry Finish Oil (50 ml/1.7 fl. oz.) smells incredible. I’ve been a huge fan of the Serge Normant hair care line, their shampoos and conditioners are extremely good, although on the pricey end. The Sheer Dry Finish Oil is a spray product that adds shine and texture. I like that it’s a lightweight product that doesn’t weigh down the hair or make it look greasy. I’ve been spraying it on both damp and dry hair and it adds a nice natural shine.
    • Eyeko Mini Black Magic Mascara (4 ml/ 0.13 fl. oz.) is something new to me. I’ve never tried anything from Eyeko before. This is a mini black mascara that is super rich in color and adheres well to the lashes. It takes a bit of combing to get this to apply evenly on my lashes, otherwise they look a bit spidery. Once you comb the product, I found it added nice volume and color. It stayed put all day without flaking or smudging. The only downsides are the effort it took me to get it to look even (it didn’t clump, it just separated my lashes too much) and it is pretty hard to remove in the evening. 
    • Anastasia Mini Clear Brow Gel (2.5 ml/ 0.08 fl. oz.) is something I haven’t tried in a long time. I received a small sample gift with purchase years ago before I did anything to my brows. I’m glad this kit made me revisit it. It’s a clear brow gel that actually holds my brows in place without making them look crunchy.
    • Hourglass Veil Mineral Primer (5 ml/ 0.16 fl. oz.) has reached cult status with many. I’m always happy to get a mini for travel. It’s a good one that keeps foundation in place and prevents it from sliding on warm weather days. The only downside for me is that it does give a white cast to my skin. Since I opt for medium to full coverage foundations the white tint isn’t a problem, although I do wish they would make options with some color.

    Bottom line this kit is a winner. I feel super pampered as I’ve been using something new from the kit each night for the past week. I’m going to replenishing with full sizes of the Serge Normant, Anastasia Brow Gel and Radical Mask for sure once the samples are used up.

    Some more beauty kits on Net-A-Porter. The By Terry Baume de Rose set is amazing, review here. I also ordered the mini Byredo Candle set, I’ll be reviewing them as soon as they arrive.

    The Net-A-Porter Valentine’s Day Kit was provided courtesy of Net-A-Porter for review consideration. More information about my disclosures here.

    6 Comments
    Uncategorized

    Jo Malone Cardamom and Moroccan Rose – Limited-Edition

    January 30, 2015

    I’ve been neglecting Jo Malone for a while because of my obsession with other lines but I couldn’t resist picking up the Cardamom & Moroccan Rose Candle ($70 for 7 oz, limited-edition) which is part of the My Wanderlust Collection mainly because the packaging looks quite stunning. Cardamom & Moroccan Rose is described as a Moroccan rose with a mix of honeyed spice. Straight out of the box it smells like a citrus orange rose with a hint of gingery spice. I wasn’t sure how it would burn because the mix of honey, citrus and rose seemed very odd. Once it you burn it, it warms up to a beautiful soothing scent. It smells of equal parts rose, ginger and chamomile. It’s floral but also earthy with a warm mix.

    The packaging was a bit of a surprise when I saw it in person. I expected an orange and red tinted glass case, instead the outside is an adhesive sticker. I was worried how the sticker would fare after burning but so far I’ve had no issues. The packaging design is quite lovely and adds a festive accent of color to the home, desk or office. Still, I would have preferred a tinted glass jar rather than a sticker but it seems very sturdy and well made so for now, I’ll overlook it.

    If you’re a fan of rose mix home fragrances, the Jo Malone Cardamom and Moroccan Rose is a good one to look into. The mix of rose, honey and spice is really quite unique and makes it a more unisex kind of rose (versus a girly and feminine rose). I find it’s been the perfect transition scent for winter to spring. It’s particularly nice on cloudy days to brighten one’s mood. On warmer sunny days here in Southern California I find it gives a soothing feel.

    The Jo Malone Cardamom & Moroccan Rose Candle is a limited-edition scent. Available at all Jo Malone stores and counters while supplies last. I bought mine from Neiman Marcus. Also available at Nordstrom, Bloomingdales, Saks and Jo Malone.

    Have you checked out the Jo Malone My Wanderlust Collection? Did you pick up anything? If not, what’s your favorite rose home scent?

    10 Comments
    Uncategorized

    Dior Kingdom of Colors Addict Gloss – Fastes #154 and Mylord #624

    January 29, 2015
    Dior has two new Addict Glosses ($29.50 for 6.5 ml/.21 fl oz, limited-edition) for the Spring 2015 Kingdom of Colors Collection in Fastes #154 and Mylord #624. Both are soft and delicate feminine colors that are semi-sheer with a high shine finish. Fastes #154 is an ultra-sparkly warm light pink with multi-colored sparkles. Mylord #624 is a mauve nude with gold sparkles mixed in.

    I’m a huge fan of the some of the Dior Addict Glosses because of the smooth texture, high shine and sometimes complex shimmer. I really like that the shimmery ones have a smooth texture and aren’t gritty, but sometimes the sparkles have a bit too much sparkle for my taste. In terms of formula these have medium lasting power, the colors are mixed in the whole line – some are sheer while others have more pigment. I find most of them medium at best (if you want more color opt for the Dior Addict Fluid Sticks). I like that these have no detectable scent or fragrance which is a huge plus for those with sensitive noses.

    Fastes #154 is on the super sparkly side. The pale color isn’t too pale to wash out my medium olive-toned complexion but since I have pigmented lips, the sparkle is more prominent on me compared to those with lighter lip tones. I normally love a really good shimmery gloss but this one is a bit too glitzy for my taste alone. I like this one layered over a cream lipstick to add a bit of shine and dimension. This being said, it does photograph well and a flash doesn’t make the lips look white. In real life it’s just too light and sparkly for my comfort but do note my lips are weird with the way they look with lighter pale colors. For me, I prefer my NARS Sweet Dreams or Dior Nuit Boreale (currently missing in action) because they have a bit more color for my super pigmented lips.

    Mylord #624 is all kinds of gorgeous. It’s a lovely understated nude mauve that isn’t too cool. It has some gold flecks mixed in it. When this one faded, there were remnants of gold sparkle left on my lips but it wasn’t gritty. I wish this color came in lipstick form because it’s the perfect mix of nude, pink and mauve all in one. I would love this in a more pigmented version.

    Here are some comparisons swatted side by side for reference:

    NARS Istria (review here)
    NARS Belize (lip swatches here)
    MAC Lovechild (lip swatches here)

    I love Mylord for the color – it’s the prettiest mauvey nude color. Fastes is a stunning shimmer but just too light and too sparkly for my taste but this is mainly because of my skin and lip tone.

    Both shades are limited-edition. Available now at Nordstrom, Saks, Bloomingdales and Dior.com.
    21 Comments