The week is flying by so quickly, I can’t believe it’s almost Friday. I picked up a couple new fragrances that have been on my wish list for ages. I picked up the small bottle of the Les Exclusifs de Chanel in Beige and Byredo Black Saffron (reviews coming in the next few weeks). Also new acquisitions are MAC Cremesheen Pearl Lipsticks in Shanghai Spice and Peach Blossom, both repurchases of lipsticks I used up a while ago. MAC lipsticks usually dry out my lips but I still can’t stop using them because some of the neutrals are really good.
The Le Volume de Chanel Mascara is a long-time favorite. I just found out they released a waterproof version so I ordered it. So far I’m really liking it and I hope they release more colors in the waterproof or bring back the Navy Blue one because as far as colored mascaras go, that one was my favorite.
Also on the lips this week are Chanel Glossimer in Seashell and YSL Pop Water Glossy Stains (swatches and review here). For cheeks I still can’t get over how much I love the Hourglass Ambient Lighting Powder in Radiant Light (also in a palette form). I’m going to call this one my never-ending bronzer. I use it a lot and still haven’t made a dent. It will probably last me forever.
Non-beauty related is my love for these rimless aviators (more colors here). It’s virtually impossible for me to find small sunglasses these days when oversized everything is in everywhere. Most of my sunglasses are several years old and it’s rare these days to find smaller frames to fit my face shape and size. These are 59mm and the perfect size for me. I bought them in multiple colors (three to be exact).
Last but not least, I’ve been really liking the Armani Eye Tints (#9 shown above). I am eager to see how the YSL Pop Water Full Metal Shadows compare (still waiting on these to ship, I have a few on backorder).
What are you loving this week? Any new beauty discoveries or staples you’re loving right now?
Yves Saint Laurent Beauty and Nordstrom have an exclusive beauty release called the Pop Water Collection. It’s a release of new shades of Glossy Stains, Nail Lacquers and a new Metallic Eyeshadow Formula for spring to summer. The collection is currently available only at Nordstrom until mid-late April.
I picked up some of the items for lips and nails – all of which are fresh juicy bright colors really pretty to brighten up the mood for spring to summer. Here’s a quick look at what I ordered and have been testing this week:
First up are the new Vernis à Lèvres Glossy Stains. If you’re a YSL fan you are probably already familiar with the previously released colors of the Vernis à Lèvres Glossy Stains (original colors here, also rebel nudes colors here). I’ve had a couple of these over the past few years recommended highly by one of my best friends. She said these give the lips a juicy wash of color and feel really lush once you apply them. I’m not usually a fan of lip stains because they tend to look so dark on me, but I’m glad I tried these. The YSL Vernis à Lèvres Glossy Stains have the right mix of gloss and stain so they are like a lipgloss but have enough pigment in them they look like a soft stain of color on the lips. At the same time they don’t look dark like traditional lip stains. The Pop Water Collection features slightly different packaging with the black YSL logo (versus the red in the older versions). It gives these a new updated edgy look.
The sponge tip is perfectly shaped to get precise application around the edges while the flat beveled parts allow you to fill in and cover the entire lip. It’s something you have to test in person to really see how well designed the applicator is.
There are two versions of the Glossy Stain this season. The Plump Up 200 is a hydrating plumper for the lips. It comes in a very pale soft pink shimmer but on the lips it’s basically clear. It is incredibly hydrating and does give the lips a pretty long-lasting shine. It makes the lips look full without making the lips tingle or go numb (huge plus for me).
Then there are the tinted versions. All are variations of bright summery colors but still very wearable (even for neutral lip lovers) The remaining 8 colors of the Vernis à Lèvres Glossy Stains are all brighter colors. 203 Eau de Corail is a warm coral peach with a hint of pink, 204 Onde Rose is a medium red rose pink, 205 Pink Rain (my favorite) is a cool-toned bright pink, 207 Juicy Peach is a warm orangey peach, 208 Wet Nude is a soft peachy color.
I really like how these apply like a semi-thick gloss to adhere well to the lips. It transforms into a smoother feeling gloss once you let it sit. It has texture which keeps the lips hydrated and soft. One swipe gives a soft tint. Adding more swipes will intensify the color.
Swatches + close ups:
Lip Swatches:
For quick reference and comparison to other YSL products, the Glossy Stains are what I wanted the Volupté Tint-In-Oils to be (which turned out to be too sheer for my liking). By comparison, the Babydoll Kiss & Blush is creamier with an opaque finish making them suitable for lips and cheeks.
Next up are the new Pop Water La Lacque Couture Nail Lacquers (four translucent shades). Although I’m a huge fan of the YSL La Lacque Couture Nail Polish formula, I picked out two of the translucent ones to test out before splurging on all four. 63 Rouge Wet is a sheer jelly red, 64 Fuchsia Rain is a sheer jelly pink. Both have a see through formula which requires 3 coats for me to get a glossy smooth finish. The result is very interesting but I’m undecided on how I feel. I tried these layered over soft pinks and they transform the colors into brighter deeper versions and add a super glossy finish. I like the high shine these have. I wish all nail polishes had a finish this shiny.
Rouge Wet with 3 coats:
Fuchsia Rain with 3 coats, it looks very similar to Rouge Wet, but this one is slightly more pink:
Here is Fuchsia Rain layered over Rouge Pablo on the right side shows how it has a lush glossy wet shiny finish (which I really love):
Click icons below to shop:
Bottom line I’m in love with the Pop Water Glossy Stains. My favorites are Pink Rain and Wet Nude. These are scented with a soft sweet grapefruit scent but it’s not too overwhelming and actually is really pleasant (at least for me). I’m undecided about the Pop Water Nail Lacquers. They are definitely unique and fun for summer and I like the high shine they offer.
You can find the Pop Water Collection now at Nordstrom. Have you checked out this collection yet? If not are you a fan of the Glossy Stains? Which colors are your favorites? P.S. Nordstrom has Triple Points going on with gift with purchases online and instores. The online gift includes samples of Volume Effet Faux Cils Shocking Mascara (0.06 oz.), Forever Youth Liberator Serum (2 packets), Gloss Volupte in 3 shades and Touche Éclat in 3 shades with your $125 Yves Saint Laurent beauty purchase.
This post was sponsored by Nordstrom. All items purchased by me, all opinions my own. For more information refer to my disclosures.
I hope everyone had a great weekend! I was planning to upload swatch comparisons on the Dior Kingdom of Colors Spring 2015 Nail Polishes on Friday but took a few days off from blogging for a much-needed weekend break. As promised here are some comparisons for Dior Spring 2015 Vernis Gel Shine Nail Lacquers in Lady #294 and Glory #660. Both nail wheels have the same colors, just two different views for lighting:
Louboutin Madame Est Nue + Tres Decollete (swatched)
To me Dior Glory looks identical to my old Dior Lucky and very similar to other pinkish reds. I still love it but definitely think you can find similar colors. Dior Lady on the other hand is powder pink perfection. It’s not too dark, not too light, has full coverage and has just the right amount of cool/pink tones to make it look soft and feminine but not too pastel. I love how elegant and understated it is without being too neutral or nude.
YSL’s latest in lips is the new Volupté Tint-In-Oil ($32 for 0.20 fl oz/6 ml) described as a “revolutionary lip color with a lip tint suspended in a deep conditioning oil.” I waited until I was able to see these in store to test them before buying any of these. I have pigmented lips and any kind of tint or stain for the lips tend to pull very bright or dark on my lips. The YSL Volupté Tint-In-Oils come in a range of light to bright colors. After swatching them on the hand I saw sheer veils of tint and shimmer suspended in oil/gloss. At first swipe they look clear but if you let them set on the hands you’ll see some color appear as they tint the skin. The brighter colors looked very wearable but I’m not a fan of putting store testers on my lips for sanitary reasons so I opted for three lighter shades to see how they would wear on my lips.
Drive Me Copper 1 is a sheer coppery gold shimmer suspended in gloss
Oh My Gold 2 is a lighter gold shimmer suspended in golden tinted gloss
I Rose You 4 is a soft light rose pink shimmer
Swatched below you can see how these have a tiny micro sparkle shimmers suspended in the oil formula which is glossy. They have a very smooth non-gritty texture:
I let the lip oil sit on my arm for about 15-20 minutes and then removed the gloss to show you the stain that remained. With a flash the colors looked washed out, so here are the stains photographed without any flash or sunlight. It was hard to capture the colors accurately, the stain reflects the actual colors of the glosses but without a flash.
My initial thoughts on these would be that these could possibly be a complete mess and that these would slide off my lips. The testers at the store were quite messy and gloss/oil was all over some of the tubes and others looked like they were leaking. Also the word “oil” in a lip product sounds less than appealing. I’ve had good experiences with YSL lip products and I know product testers in stores can go through a lot of rough testing so I decided to give these a try.
The texture is very fluid. I had an open tube tilted at a slight upside-down angle for a few minutes while I was trying to read the bottom label and a little bit of product dripped out. For the most part I don’t see many people holding it upside-down so leaking shouldn’t be an issue. The Volupté Oils are very emollient but they didn’t slide around on the lips like some sheer glosses do. At first swipe they look clear but after you let them sit on the lips the tint melds in with the lip and adds a slight glow with some color.
Lasting power is medium for me, the gloss effect lasts several hours and it will last through bottles of water, not so much coffee or tea, but since there is a slight stain and tint to the color remains on the lips for hours (all day for me). I should have opted for the darker more pigmented colors but after seeing them turn bright on my hands at the store, I was afraid they would turn fluorescent on my lips. After seeing how the three lighter shades I purchased performed, I do think I should have gone with the more pigmented shades.
There is the signature sweet grapefruit YSL scent in these. If you liked the YSL Gloss Voluptés (three reviewed here), I think you will like the Volupté Tint-In-Oil. If you want more pigment or color, skip the colors I got and try for one of the shades that look darker/brighter.
Here are the colors on my lips. Note as usual your mileage may vary depending on your natural lip color and pigment:
I like the formula. They feel smooth and moisturizing on the lips and even though there is visible tiny micro sparkles these are remarkably smooth and non-gritty feeling. I thought these would be an oil slick but for a lip oil they stay put where you apply the product and I found they didn’t slide around. On me these transform from a clear gloss to a healthy natural glow with a hint of color. I’m all for neutral and nude lips but on me the three colors I picked kinda look the same – unfortunately you can’t really tell how they will look on you until you try them. They way they swatch on the hand is different from how they look on the lips. Had I known how they would perform I would have skipped #2 Oh My Gold because it looks really similar to #1 Drive Me Copper and opted for a darker pink or purple shade (like #5, 6 or 8).
Have you checked out the YSL Volupté Tint-In-Oils yet? What did you think? There are 8 shades available for $32 each. All are available now at Sephora, Nordstrom, Neiman Marcus and Saks.
Happy weekend everyone! New spring collections and launches are starting to trickle in. Spring seems to be filled with some lovely pinks and roses. A few things on my beauty radar, from top left clockwise:
Diptyque’s latest is the Rose and Ivy Collection. There is a new candle out called Rosafolia. Available now at online Diptyque and in Diptyque Boutiques. In addition there is a new scented oval and perfume released with the collection.
Hourglass Cosmetics has new Eyeshadow Palettes coming out this spring called Modernist Eyeshadow Palettes. Infinity is the first one released, available now at Barneys New York. I can’t wait to see this in person.
Dior Kingdom of Colors has two new Nail Lacquers in Glory and Lady for spring. There is also a really interesting Top Coat that looks like confetti.
YSL Volupté Tint-In-Oil is a lip tint suspended in oil. It comes in eight colors. I’ve read mixed reviews but I have three sitting in my shopping cart. I can’t decide whether or not to pull the trigger and buy without testing first.
Bite Beauty has a new Agave Lip Mask in Smashed which is a berry hue. I am putting this one to the test right now and hope to have a full review with swatches later next week.
The holiday season is in full swing and I have another holiday inspired beauty post to share with you today. Last month I shared some Champagne and Gold Shimmer favorites from Nordstrom. I’m a neutral makeup lover at heart but still like to like to wear brighter colors. Red is very much in season although finding a good red nail color is easy with so many good options, finding a good red lip can be challenging for me. I have full lips that tend to pull a lot of pink with lipsticks and glosses. Many reds can be too bright, pull orange, or turn fuchsia pink if they have too much blue.
I’ve pulled seven of my favorite reds ranging from soft pink red to a deep berry red for lips that I’d recommend for neutral lip lovers. They have enough pigment for those who want a bolder lip, but still natural enough to be wearable for even the most conservative makeup wearer.
If you’re super scared of red, opt for a pink red. YSL Volupté Sheer Candy Succulent Pomegranate #4 (1) is a super sheer but hot pink with some red. It has a sheer glossy finish which makes it more wearable. Burberry Oxblood Lip Glow Lip Gloss (2) looks super dark in the tube but has a jelly finish making it a super sheer jelly pink red.
If you’re braver for more color, NARS Tech Fashion Gloss Shade IV (3) is a warm red, there is a hint of a natural shimmer in it making it not a pure red. The warmth also makes it softer.
For those who want a true red with shine, I’d recommend Chanel Rouge Allure Gloss in Seduction (4) which stays put quite well for a gloss formula. It’s layerable for rich color but still has a hint of pink making it a youthful red. NARS Burning Love Lip Gloss (5) is a true red that packs a punch. For a gloss, this is also very pigmented. This is the true-est red I have that is the perfect in between of warm and cool. For me, this is the perfect holiday red.
If you want a lush brighter red, Fresh Sugar Lip Treatment in Sugar Cherry (6) is surprisingly pigmented on the lips. Swatched on the arms or hands it looks like it will barely show up, but the Fresh Sugar Lips tend to adhere really well to the lips which brings out the color. This one just glows.
For those who want a deeper berry red, Burberry Beauty Lip Mist in Oxblood (7) is as perfect as it gets for deep reds. It’s a hybrid gel formula so it’s supposed to be sheer, but the formula hugs the lips and swiping back and forth brings out the color. Burberry Blueberry Lip Mist is a redder and deeper option. Oxblood also comes in a more pigmented Lip Cover version as well.
If you still are convinced you can’t pull of red lips but still want to wear red, nail polish is the easiest way to incorporate a bit of red into your holiday beauty routine. The best thing about red nail polish is that it’s timeless. There’s no need to buy a new color if you already own reds, you can always shop your stash from spring or summer. That being said, I do always look forward to what brands release each holiday for their version of what they think is the latest and greatest modern red. Three I’m loving right now include:
Burberry Oxblood is re-promoted this season with gold packaging for holiday. It’s a jelly deep oxblood color. Two coats will give you a deep plum red. Chanel Expression (from late fall) is the perfect hybrid of red and pink. On me it definitely leans more red, but the pink tone brightens the colors and makes the hands look alive (not drab). YSL Rouge Pablo was a release from spring. It’s a bright and very warm red but festive.
Some inspiration on what to coordinate with a red lip. Keep the eyes and cheeks simple since the statement color will be on your lips. Neutral earthy eyes can be dressed up with deeper smokey browns or blacks. For cheeks, I’ve always found earthy, peachy or soft bronzed colors work well with any undertone of red.
Do you like to wear reds for lips and nails for holiday? Please let me know what your favorite go-to’s are! Or if you have any new recent discoveries I’d love to hear about those too.
Special thanks to Nordstrom for sponsoring this post. Burberry Oxblood Lip Glow, Lip Mist and Nail Polish were provided for review consideration. All other items purchased by me. As always, all opinions are my own. For more info, you can refer to my Disclosures.
