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Summer 2014

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Lipstick Queen Jungle Queen Lipstick and Open Secret Oxymoron

April 23, 2014

Lipstick Queen has released two new lip products this month for spring/summer. Jungle Queen Lipstick ($22 at SpaceNK) is a vibrant coral designed to coordinate with bold animal prints. Open Secret ($24 now at Lipstick Queen, launching soon at SpaceNK) is the latest color in the Oxymoron lip/cheek formula, it’s a soft baby peony pink with a pop of color. Lipstick Queen sent these brighter shades for review – they aren’t colors normally what I gravitate towards but they are easy to wear brights. While I’m a huge fan of neutral lips, I get numerous requests to review items that are bolder in color. Here are two that are definitely bold.

Jungle Queen Lipstick is Poppy King’s modern twist on a classic red. Jungle Queen is a bold coral cream. It has a moisturizing feel but semi-matte finish. It’s rich in coverage and pigment which requires precise application (mine photographed below is a bit messy). I found the formula to stay put for several hours without any bleeding, but if you’re like me and don’t always apply lipstick precisely (one reason I like sheers), you may want to add a liner first. This is one of those universally flattering shades I suspect is like Viva Glam Rihanna (if you like bold lips). It’s rich enough to cover the most pigmented lips. I have it shown applied straight from the tube and then blotted to show it will fade.

Open Secret Oxymoron is a lip/cheek stain in a mirrored compact. This is my first time trying their stains. I found it to be fully matte with full coverage. I do think you need to moisturize the lips first. It’s not drying but the texture is matte so it will highlight/emphasize and flakes or creases. Open Secret is a pale pink with a pop. It’s not too pale so it washes me out and has a bit of coral undertone to prevent it from looking blue. I tried this on the cheeks and found it difficult to blend with my fingers – I’m open to suggestions on how to apply if you’ve tried these. It photographs well on the lips. On the cheeks it shows up as well but doesn’t photograph well (at least on me). Lasting power is quite impressive on the lips but the matte finish made it feel a bit dry (it didn’t dry out my lips though, it just felt dry).

Comparisons to show how vibrant these new colors from Lipstick Queen are: NARS Torres del Paine (swatch here), Tom Ford Sweet Spot (swatches here), NARS Lodhi, NARS Anguila Matte Multiple, NARS Laos Matte Multiple, Chanel Magnolia Rouge Coco and Chanel Jersey Rose Rouge Coco (discontinued).

Both are rich full coverage colors. I like both colors but don’t know that I am brave enough to wear Jungle Queen everyday. Open Secret works well for the color but I tend to prefer shades with a bit of a sheen. This can be fixed by adding a bit of gloss on top. I wouldn’t have picked out either shade on my own but it’s nice to explore shades and textures out of my comfort zone and discover new items.
Both Jungle Queen ($22) and Open Secret ($24) launch this month. Jungle Queen is available exclusively at SpaceNK and Lipstick Queen. Open Secret is available at Lipstick Queen now and should launch at SpaceNK soon. (PS Don’t forget, The Beauty Look Book readers still have access to a SpaceNK online promotion through the 25th with code LOOKBOOK20, details here.)
Do you have any Lipstick Queen favorites? I know there are many die-hard fans of her line. I haven’t explored it recently but would love to hear about what you’ve tried.

This post contains press samples sent for review. All opinions my own. For more information please see my disclosures.
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Dior Front Row #769 Vernis Gel Shine Lacquer

April 15, 2014

Dior Front Row #769 ($25 for 10 ml/0.33 fl oz, made in France) is a hot fuchsia pink shimmer. It’s a vibrant color that flashes hints of neon pink, violet and blue pearls. I found it almost identical to Chanel Tentation (reviewed here). Dior’s flashes more blue and violet while Chanel’s is warmer and more red. The difference from an arm’s length view is virtually non-existent. The color is so vibrant and bright it was hard to capture the real color with a camera. The neon quality makes it hard to capture accurately. I’ll add comparisons below to help show the real color.

Swatches with two coats, applied by myself along with Deborah Lippmann Rehydrating Base Coat and Dior’s Gel Top Coat. I found application to be flawless – these gel shine nail colors from Dior are super easy to apply.

Comparisons to Rescue Beauty Lounge Lotus Elise, Chanel Tentation, Tom Ford Indiscretion (review here) and Tom Ford Trophy Wife (discontinued, review here):

I’m really impressed with the formula of Front Row #769. Some of you may have fallen in love with the older Dior brush but these new ones are really easy to work with and apply on small fingers (my ring finger is a Size 4) but the brush is flexible and will fan out with pressure if you need a wider area covered with one-two swipes.

If you have Chanel Tentation I think you can skip Front Row. The difference is not really noticeable from arm’s length. The formula of the Dior has a more opaque pigmented finish while the Chanel is slightly more jelly-like. I had to look really close at my nail wheel to tell the difference which is really slight (Chanel is warmer, Dior flashes more violet).

Have you picked up any of the new Dior nail polishes? What’s your favorite so far?

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Dior Tra-La-La #155 Vernis Gel Shine and Long Wear Nail Lacquer

April 14, 2014

Dior Vernis Gel Shine and Long Wear Nail Lacquer ($25 each) is a new formula of nail polish that is a regular nail lacquer with a gel-effect. It has a high-shine formula that is designed to “provide you with glass-like shine and extended wear.” I’ve been playing with a few of the shades and am in love with the formula. I have never had a traditional gel manicure so I can’t compare the effect of these new Dior lacquers to the real thing. However the Dior Vernis Gel Shines do have rich intense pigment with a very smooth application. The brushes are slightly different than the last variation – the brushes are thinner and a bit more fanned out/rounded at the end to match the curve of the nail beds better. This makes it easier to apply with two to three swipes. The polishes have a lush cushy look to them even before you apply any top coat.

 

First up is Tra-La-La #155 a soft clean pink (see all shades swatched here). I tested this with my go-to Deborah Lipmann Rehydrating Base Coat and Dior Gel Top Coat. I tend to keep my nails on the short end so they don’t hit the computer or laptop keyboard. Lasting power was quite good at 5 days without tip wear. Tra-La-La is a soft semi-sheer pink. It’s not too sheer that you have to layer on 4-5 coats. I had it applied professionally below with two coats. I swatched comparisons below with two coats as well and it covered the nail well with a slight see-through quality.

The brushes are more rounded this time:

Dior Gel Top Coat and Tra-La-La #155 Gel Shine:

Swatched with two coats:

Featured in the NARS Contouring post:

I really like how Tra-La-La actually shows up on my skin and that it’s not too pale. It’s a good baby pink that isn’t too sheer. Comparisons to some other pinks below shows it has enough pink pigment in the color to prevent it from looking white against my olive skin. It has a soft clean polished look.

On the nails: OPI Heart Throb (with 4 coats), Dior Tra-La-La, Laura Mercier Oh La La (discontinued, with three coats), OPI Pink of Hearts (2009 version), Chanel Frisson:

More pinks on nail wheels, same set with two views: Tom Ford Sugar Dune, OPI You Callin’ Me a Lyre, OPI Heart Throb, Dior Tra-La-La, Laura Mercier Oh La La (discontinued), Chanel Morning Rose (discontinued), OPI Pink of Hearts (discontinued), Chanel Frisson, NARS Trouville

I’m overall really impressed with these new colors and formulas from Dior. I’ve been a huge fan of Dior’s formula and didn’t think it could get better. Somehow it has. They’ve kept some of the classic colors but introduced some new ones. I wish I had the older Tutu to compare but I don’t. Based on what I’ve seen on other blogs Tra-La-La seems sheerer and easier to work with.

Dior Gel Shine nail lacquers should be available at all Dior Beauty Counters and Boutiques now. Online at Nordstrom, Neiman Marcus, Saks, Bloomingdales and Dior.com.

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Tom Ford Summer 2014 | Unabashed Eye and Cheek Palette, Solar Gold and Moonlight Lip Shimmers

April 10, 2014

Tom Ford Beauty Summer has arrived with a new Unabashed Eye and Cheek Palette ($95) two new Lip Shimmers in Solar Gold and Moonlight along with a repromote of the stunning Skin Illuminator in Fire Lust ($65). All the items are limited-edition. I purchased the palette and lip items online as soon as I saw them since Tom Ford beauty items tend to sell very quickly.

The Unabashed Eye and Cheek Palette comes in a large white and gold mirrored compact similar in size to the Tom Ford Bronzers. It has three shadows in a glittering light beige/tan/taupe, a soft mauve brown matte and an intense navy/indigo color. There are also two cheek products which include a golden bronzer and a coral shimmer blush. The colors are absolutely stunning – I’m completely in love with the bronzer/cheek colors. The eye colors are also beautiful when used together. I’ve been applying the eyes starting with the medium shade first and then with the glittery color added on top. The indigo color is a bit tricky to use. It has intense pigment but can be quite messy when applied. I found it best to use as a liner along the lashes by dabbing/pressing onto the eye over a pencil or gel liner. Once on the eyes it doesn’t budge, but there is fall out and can get messy. The glittery tan is indeed very sparkly (similar to She Wolf). If you’re not 100% in love with every color in the palette, the good news is most of the colors can be duplicated with other shades.
The bronzer is unique in the sense it is more golden and lighter. I wish this came in a full size. I suspect it is very similar to MAC Trace Gold (which I can’t find at the moment) if you want a dupe. The blush is a cross between Tom Ford Flush and Love Lust blushes.

Left to right: Gold Dust Bronzer, She Wolf Trio (partial swatch, discontinued), Unabashed Eye and Cheek Palette (partial swatch), Tom Ford Blushes in Savage, Flush, Love Lust, Ravish.

The Lip Shimmers are hit/miss for me. For the price and given my love for other Tom Ford lip products I had high expectations for these. Solar Gold is a very sheer gold. It goes on with only a slight tint similar in concept to the Gold Dust Lip Lacquer from a few summers ago. The texture is semi glossy and moisturizing – it feels incredible on the lips. I do wish the pigment was richer. Moonlight was a huge miss for me. It went on blotchy and uneven. It does feel really nice on the lips but the color just simply did not work on my lips. I have used this mixed with the regular Tom Ford lipsticks and it adds a nice sheen to the pinks or peaches.
Out of the two I like Solar Gold the best. Even though it’s sheer it’s still nice on the lips. If you want a white shimmer lip, I’d recommend you opt for the regular Tom Ford Lip Lacquer (which I adore and think is a must-have for everyone). Or use NARS Copacabana Multiple mixed with any clear gloss.

Left to right: Chanel Rouge Coco Shine in Brilliance (discontinued), Burberry Trench Kiss Lip Gloss, Tom Ford Gold Dust Lacquer (discontinued), Solar Gold and Moonlight, Tom Ford Lip Lacquer, NARS Copacabana Multiple, MAC Sugar Rimmed.

I’m a huge Tom Ford fan but have mixed feelings about this collection. I adore the Eye and Cheek Palette but wish they had released a large bronzer/blush and a separate eye palette. I don’t think I could pull off the eyes for everyday but the look is very pretty for evenings or non-corporate work environments. If you’re not a fan of the eyes or mixed palettes, you can get a similar effect with the Tom Ford Gold Dust Bronzer or any of the blushes swatched above (amazing in pigment and quality and worth every penny).
The lip shimmers are hit/miss. Solar Gold is nice to have but not a must-have. Moonlight was a fail for me, but if you’ve tried this and love it I’d love to hear how you’ve been wearing it.

All items are limited-edition. In stores now and selling out quickly.
Unabashed Eye and Cheek Palette has sold out several times online but keep checking because retailers have been restocking. Currently available at Neiman Marcus, Harrods, Selfridges, Nordstrom (backorder). For SKUs if you want to search physical stores info on Bloomingdales.
Lip Shimmers are available at plenty of locations still such as Nordstrom, Saks, Bloomingdales, Neiman Marcus.
Fire Lust Skin Illuminator is also going fast. Right now it’s still available at Saks, Neiman Marcus, Harrods, and Nordstrom (backorder).
Did you see Tom Ford Summer yet? What did you think?
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Giorgio Armani Maestro Mediterranea | Fusion Blush 400 and Liquid Summer Bronzer

April 2, 2014

The Giorgio Armani Maestro Mediterranea Collection brings us an extension of the Maestro Fusion makeup line with three new Fusion Blushes in 300, 400 and 500 ($52 each for 15 ml/0.5 fl oz) and one new Liquid Summer Bronzer ($64 for 30 ml/1 fl oz). These come packaged similar to the Maestro Fusion Foundations with a squeeze dropper to dispense the liquid onto the back of your hand or onto a brush before blending on the face. The summer colors have intense pigment and look extremely dark if you see them directly in the bottles. Fortunately these blend extremely well with a blush or fingers and are easily layerable. The texture is very liquid with a satiny finish. The feel on the skin is almost like velvet and lasting power is very good from morning to late evening without fading.

New summer cheek and bronzer items at the counter Fusion Blushes, Liquid Summer Bronzer, Cheek Fabric Blushes and Sun Fabric Bronzers:

I picked Fusion Blush #400 (the lightest of the three) after testing the colors at the counter. This has a frosted bottle that is skinnier and smaller than the other Maestro Fusion items. #400 is a coral red pink that is easy to blend. I really like how pigmented these are. I found the Fusion Blush performed much better than the Face Fabrics – however I’ve never been a huge fan of the Face Fabric formula. They have always felt too silicone-like on my skin. The new Fusion Blushes have a slightly velvety feel but they adhere to the skin well. I give this one a huge thumbs up although I feel this one is extremely overpriced for the size.

The Maestro Liquid Summer Bronzer is a lovely neutral bronze. This one has a very subtle shimmer to the color that doesn’t show up on the face but gives the skin depth. I am surprised that this formula only comes in one shade of bronze. I do think it will suit fair to tan skins but those with darker skintones may find this one won’t show up. I really love this one for the texture and color. I do think application can get a bit messy if you’re not careful with the packaging.

Swatches, three ways to show the intensity of the color and how you can blend/build color.

Packaging comparisons for Armani liquid bottles:

Comparisons to NARS G-Spot Multiple, Armani Face Fabric #2 (discontinued), Chanel Bronze Universel de Chanel (my holy grail cream bronzer/counter product), MAC Weekend To the Beach Creme Bronzer (discontinued) and NARS Vientaine Matte Multiple (review soon).

I’m overall really pleased with the results of the Summer Maestro Liquid Blush and Bronzer. I’m not thrilled with the prices – although these are luxury items and well designed in all aspects from packaging, formula and long-wear quality I do think the prices are on the steep side. Right now they are listed as limited-edition but I’m not 100% sure if they are.

You can find the entire collection now at Nordstrom. All three shades of Blush Fusions are also available online now at Bloomingdales and Neiman Marcus (I suspect they will have the bronzer online soon and the entire collection will show up at other retailers shortly). 

Did you check out the collection yet? What were your thoughts? (PS I picked up a few of the new cheek and sun fabric powders but haven’t had time to test them out yet.)

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Tom Ford Summer Beauty – Now at Saks.com

March 30, 2014
The summer collection for Tom Ford Beauty has now started to trickle in online at various retailers. The entire collection is now available at Saks.com. The limited-edition items in this year’s summer collection:
I just ordered the palette and lip shimmers, I’m assuming the skin illuminator this year is the same as last year due to the name, but I’m not 100% sure. If you’ve seen it please let me know! Are you planning to order anything from Tom Ford summer?

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