NARS 'Some Like It Hot' Lip Bag (Nordstrom Exclusive)

Another item that I pick up from the Nordstrom Anniversary sale was the NARS Some Like it Hot Lip Bag ($49).  It is “a scandalous threesome of luxurious lip textures in modern nude hues and whisper-soft pinks.”

Set includes:
- Full-size Pago Pago Lipstick a shimmering Nude Pink
- Mini Gold Digger Larger Than Life Lip Gloss Sparkling Peach Shimmer
- Mini Velvet Matte Lip Pencil in Bettina a  natural rose beige sheen
- Limited edition covetable carry-all NARS tote bag.

L to R: Pago Pago, Bettina, Gold Digger

Now I already have Pago Pago in my lippie collection but I love it so much that a back up is not a bad thing.  See it reviewed previously here. Gold Digger is described as a peach shimmer and that is pretty exact. It’s a lighter peach with multicolor shimmer that is beautiful on its own or layered on top of anything.  One thing I did notice is that the Larger Than Life glosses smell ten times better than the original NARS glosses, which has a plastic smell. The LTL have almost no scent at all, me likey that much better.  Bettina is a pretty mauvey rose shimmer that is little more fall looking in my book so I definitely see myself wearing a ton in the fall and winter. It looks awesome topped with the Gold Digger gloss.  Overall a great lip bag with stand out NARS products. NARS also released a deeper wine lip bag as well for the Sale, so if that is more your thing check out the Baiser de Feu Lip Bag.

Some more Rimmel Show Off Shades…

I picked up a few more shades of Rimmel’s Show Offs Lip Lacquers ($4.99) at Walgreens the other day.  I have been loving the first shades I bought so I thought why not try a few more!  Stargazer a light golden shade with bits of shimmer and Luna is a beautiful bright peach color shade that looks great as an everyday shade.  Again, Rimmel Show Off Lip Lacquers are super pigmented lipgloss/lipstick hybrids that have a lightweight creamy feel with a satiny finish.

L to R: Luna, Stargazer

Overall, I am super impressed with this drugstore steal from Rimmel.  Not only is it light and long-lasting on the lips, it is not drying at all.  I would recommend checking out this product at your local drugstore, it’s a must have!



M·A·C Illustrated Face Kit (Nordstrom Exclusive) in Brown Smoke

I love when the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale rolls around each year. They always released exclusive limited edition beauty products from multiple brands.  MAC always delivers a great exclusive collection for Nordstrom and this year was no different.  The theme for the collection is “Illustrated” and each set comes with specially designed packaging featuring exclusive illustrations from fashion designer Rebecca Moses.  I decided to pick up the Illustrated Face Kit ($49.50) in Brown Smoke because it contained a few MAC shades I don’t already have plus some LE shades.

The Kit includes:

- Powder Blush in Melba: a matte soft peach.
- Satin Eyeshadow in Orb: a soft peach.
- Veluxe Pearl Eyeshadow in All That Glitters: beige with gold pearl.
- Satin Eyeshadow in Smoked Sepia: a rich brown.
- Matte Eyeshadow in Showstopper: a dark brown.
- Cremesheen Lipstick in Ravishing: a light peachy coral.
- Satin Lipstick in Myth: a neutral nude.
- Duo brush with 275 SE Medium Angled Shading Brush and 316 SE Lip Brush

Out of the shades in the Brown Smoke kit, the only one I already own is All That Glitters, which is in one of my large MAC palettes. (I should do a post on those sometime in the future…) Overall this is a great neutral palette to create easy everyday looks. I love it and she myself using all the time! Plus I like the fact that there is a cover over the lip products to protect them from powder fallout. Along with this collection, Nordstrom’s website has several MAC face charts showcasing the new exclusive products.  Here is the one using this palette:

I was able to have early access to the Nordstrom’s exclusive because I have a Nordstrom Debit Card (you get points toward Nordstrom Notes and money comes direct from your checking account). I believe the exclusives will be available to everyone as of July 19^th.

Josie Maran Argan Love Your Lips Hydrating Lipstick in Happy Honey

I was browsing my local Sephora looking at what’s new and came across Argan Love Your Lips Hydrating Lipstick ($22) by Josie Maran. I haven’t really paid much attention to the Josie Maran line but something about this color and the concept drew me in.  Josie Maran is a former model who wanted to launch a more eco-friendly beauty line but at the same time be luxurious.  One of her main ingredients in most of her products is Argan Oil, which high in antioxidants, vitamin E, etc. and perfect for skin and hair.

“Kiss your love/hate relationship with lipstick good-bye. You'll love your lipstick to the core with this 3-in-1 formula with the shine of a gloss, the high pigment of a lipstick, and the hydrating benefits of a balm. The clear outer core drenches lips in shine and hydration with pure Argan Oil, while the high pigment inner core saturates lips in color. The buildable, medium coverage is foolproof—even when you're applying it mirror-free.”

Love Your Lips is available in six shades, from nude to a deep berry.  It has a similar design to Clarins Instant Smooth Crystal Lip Balm or Avon Shine Attract Lipstick; it has a color core that is surrounded by a layer of clear balm. The idea behind this lipstick is that it's a gloss, a lipstick, and a lip balm in one. I chose the shade Happy Honey which is a beautiful nude pink that gives the lips a nice shine.  The lipstick goes on quite smooth but due to the clear outer core the color pigment doesn’t reach the edge of the lips.  So it’s important to rub your lips together or mix on your finger, then apply. 

• Available at Sephora, QVC, Josie Maran.com

NARS Satin Lip Pencils in Biscayne Park & Rikugien

NARS recently released Satin Lip Pencils ($25) which are a selection of high-impact, fashion-forward shades in a rich, creamy satin finish that stays on all day.

What Sephora says:

What it does:
The Satin Lip Pencil dresses up lips in statement shades that seduce with rich, color-bright pigments, while drenching them in decadent moisture. This modern, long-wearing, vitamin-enriched formula for lips looks sumptuously saturated and dramatically defined.

What else you need to know:
The Satin Lip Pencil Category shade designations are all named for parks and gardens around the world.

Left: Rikugien    Right: Biscayne Park

Biscayne Park Satin Lip Pencil is described by NARS as a pink guava. To me it’s a medium nude with brownish pink undertones. This color is a warm nude that is very versatile (work friendly) and will be easy for most skin tones to wear.  Biscayne Park applies smoothly with opaque coverage.  The finish and texture is super creamy with a definite satin finish, hence the name.  I didn’t find this formula drying at all but it was super moisturizing either.

Rikugien Satin Lip Pencil is described by NARS as a rose pink. I found it to be a medium pinky rose with a frost finish. It gives mostly opaque coverage, not as much as Biscayne Park; the color can be built up. The texture is also creamy and glides on lips easily. Overall both shades are a win for me!

 

Clé de Peau Beauté SS 2013 La Beaute Mediterranee Collection Enriched Lip Luminizer 221 Sweet Nougat

“Pure radiance in a lip rouge. Lavishly bathes lips in luxurious luster. With each use, the fuller and more stunning your lips become. Brilliant dessert-inspired shades and a sumptuous texture put a spotlight on your most beguiling feature.”

 The second item I pick up from the Clé de Peau Beauté SS2013 collection is the Enriched Lip Luminizer ($35) in 221 Sweet Nougat.   Sweet Nougat is one of three shades of Lip Luminizer released with this collection, the other two being Sugar Candy 222 & Raspberry Rip.  Lip Luminizer is a superbly soft and silky formula that melts onto lips. Sweet Nougat is a rosy blush shade that is definitely a perfect "my lips but better" shade and can easily be worn all day, everyday, 365 days a year. It complements the Sapphire 209 Eye Quad beautifully by not overpowering the lips and leaving the focus on the eyes.

The lip luminizers also come in a refillable packaging with a separate case ($25), which you can just pop the lipstick into.  So if you want to purchase multiple shades you can just switch them up or buy a case for each, whatever! 

Chantecaille Spring 2013 Lip Review: Lip Chic in Daphne & Luminous Gloss in Pink Melon

For Spring 2013, Chantecaille has released a collection contain 2 new shades of Lip Chic’s (Daphne & Rose Delice $32) and 2 new shades Luminous Glosses (Pink Melon & Framboise $34). I have read many review of the Chantecaille line but have never purchased anything until now.  I picked up Daphne Lip Chic and Pink Melon Luminous Gloss, both which are absolutely stunning!

First, let’s talk about the Lip Chic in Daphne.  The Lip Chic formula is a hybrid, part gloss and part lipstick. It’s a highly emollient formula that offers the even coverage of a lipstick with the high shine and plumping effects of a gloss (formula contains collagen).  Daphne is a peachy pink with a creamy semi-opaque finish, perfect for everyday wear.  I found that this product was easy to apply and wears comfortably with excellent lasting power for a glossy lipstick.

Luminous Gloss in Pink Melon is a stunning light pink with subtle shimmer. It has nice pigmentation when worn and doesn’t settle into lip lines like so lighter lip gloss shades. The gloss applies smoothly and evenly; leaving the lips glossy and hydrated.  The formula feels slightly tacky, but wears nicely.  On its own, Pink Melon is really beautiful but it also is the perfect compliment to Daphne.

Tarte Amazonian Butter Lipstick in Plummy Rose

This new lipstick formula from tarte is supposed to drench lips in moisture for super soft lips that are full of creamy color. This new product is infused with healthy, hydrating butters (cupuacu and murumuru) for maximum lip hydration.  The plummy rose shade is perfect for any complexion and great for spring, a little deeper than my normal lip shade. 

The formula is super creamy and feels like a lip balm on the lips, though it is full of color.  It also has a bit of shine to it and has a very slight mint fragrance. I do hope tarte releases more shades of this lipcolor formula because it really is quite nice. I do prefer it to the LipSurgence and Glamzon pure performance formulas, which can be a bit drying.  I have been pairing this color with tarte’s maracuja divine shine gloss in adored, great combo!

NARS Pago Pago Lipstick

NARS describes the Sheer Lipstick ($34) formula as: “A beautifully sheer formula infused with ingredients to improve the condition of the lips. Sheer, long lasting color pigments have been suspended in this translucent formula to provide a sophisticated shine. Each NARS lipstick is "enriched with vitamin E to increase wearability and keep true color intact." While at Sephora the other day, I picked up the color Pago Pago which is described by NARS as a "shimmering pink".

Pago Pago is a pink-beige with subtle shimmer with a creamy base. I have quite a few pinky-beige lipsticks but nothing quite like this one. I think the shimmer gives it a little something different although the shimmer is not very noticeable until you get up close. The color applied is warm, subtle, and natural; wearable for most skin tones. Because it is sheer, your natural lip color will enhance the color of the lipstick. Pago Pago pulls pretty pink on my lips due to my lips already having a bit of color to them.  Overall, Pago Pago is a lovely addition to my collection and one of my new favorite everyday colors.

Clinique Curviest Caramel Chubby Stick Intense

Clinique recently released a new formula of their ever so popular Chubby Sticks called Chubby Stick Intense Moisturizing Lip Colour Balm ($16), which is currently available in 8 shades.  The packaging is the same has the original Chubby Sticks (a lip crayon) but these have a new fuller coverage formula that gives a more intense colour.  The Clinique Chubby Stick Intense range is infused with Shea Butter, Mango Seed Butter and Jojoba Seed Oil to moisturize whilst antioxidants protect your lips from environmental damage.  Most of the eight shades are quite bright, darker colors (ranging from a bright red to a deep grape) with only one nude color……which is the one I got, surprise, surprise!

Curviest Caramel is medium pinky nude that works as a perfect everyday neutral, which I am all about.  The formula is super creamy and really pigmented (hence the intense in the name =)).  Application is super easy; the balm-like product glides on lips seamlessly.  Overall, these are a great staple to add to your makeup arsenal, especially if you are already a fan of the original Chubby Sticks.  Hopefully they will introduce more colors in the future…see you next time!

Edward Bess Deep Shine Lipgloss in Lover’s Desire & Ultra Slick Lipstick in Lotus Bloom

Edward Bess has introduced some new shades of his Ultra Slick Lipstick ($32) & Deep Shine Lipgloss ($30). But with these new shades it looks as if some of his older shades were discontinued, such as two of my favorite shades, Secret Desire Lipstick and Endless Love Lipgloss (sad face). But I am hoping that his new shades will be equally as amazing as every shade I have tried. Here is a run down of the new shades of glosses & lipsticks:

Ultra Slick Lipstick:
• Midnight Hour - Cool PinkDeep Shine Lipgloss:
• Forbidden Love - Beige Coral
• Night Jasmine – Raspberry Mauve
• Roulette Rouge – True Red
• Naked Truth – Beige Nude
• Lotus Bloom – Peachy Pink

Deep Shine Lip Gloss
• Stolen Kiss – Baby Pink (Looks Similar to Endless Love)
• Lover’s Desire – Peachy Neutral
• Wild Passion – Berry Mauve
• Nude Whisper – True Beige

I picked up two of the new shades; Deep Shine Lipgloss in Lover’s Desire and Ultra Slick Lipstick in Lotus Bloom. Lover’s Desire is a peachy pink with a cream finish; it’s kind of like Secret Desire Deep Shine Lipstick but in lipgloss form! It has great pigmentation, like all of Edward’s glosses that it’s easy to wear on its own or over a lipstick. I find that all the Deep Shine lipglosses have great staying power which is I believe is due to the thickness of the formula. I can drink a cup of coffee and this gloss will last through, most don’t on my lips.

Lover's Desire

Lotus Bloom is just the color I have been looking for recently, a true peach. It’s described as a Peachy Pink on Sephora’s website but I don’t see much pink as you can see from my swatches. It’s a buttery smooth color that glides on easily. Lover’s Desire and Lotus Bloom make a perfect combo for a soft peach lip. I am totally in love with both!!

Lotus Bloom

Chanel Superstition Rouge Coco

Chanel Superstition Rouge Coco ($32.50) is a beautiful shimmering nude peach beige released in the Spring 2012 collection. Superstition is pretty sheer compared to other Rouge Coco shades but it still allows your natural lip color to show through.  Most super nude lip colors make me look too washed out but this shade does not.  It has a soft shimmer finish that is not frosty but gives more of a sheen.  Overall a beautiful shade I can see myself wearing a lot this summer, I don’t think I have a shade quite like this in my collection.

Chanel En Vouge Rouge Coco Shine

The Rouge Coco Shine ($32.50) formula has to be my favorite Chanel lipstick formula.  They apply so smoothly and without effort, plus the color range is beautiful.  I also find that they moisturize my lips quite well and the rosy scent is so elegant.  The shade En Vogue didn’t really catch my eye too much because the color is way out of my comfort zone.  After reading some other reviews of this color, which is from the Summertime de Chanel Summer 2012 Collection, I decided to give it a try.

En Vogue is a sheer coral, which is very on trend for this summer.  It looks a little bright in the tube but when applied you get is a very sheer, gel-like coral with pink undertones.  En Vogue doesn’t have any shimmer that I can detect, if it does, its very, very subtle.  This is a great color for someone like me who is often scared of bright lip color. It adds just the right pop of color to my lips that doesn’t say “HELLO, I’m wearing bright lipstick!!”  Overall a great color for summer! I am slowly but surely stepping out of the neutral box when it comes to lipsticks and lipglosses.

Burberry Lip Mist in Pink Heather

Since I have decided that I love the Burberry Lip Mist formula, I decided to add another color from the Iconic Nudes collection, Pink Heather. I just love the sheer creamy formula, so I had to have another.

Pink Heather is a soft cool pink, which is much more pigmented than the other two Lip Mists that I picked up (Nude Peach & Field Rose). This shade is extremely natural looking and enhances my natural lip color perfectly. I normally lean to warmer shades, but recently I have really been digging cooler ones. I have included swatches of Field Rose and Pink Heather so you can see the difference in pigmentation and color. Field Rose also has a slight sheen, whereas Pink Heather has a cream finish (no shimmer). Love, Love this formula, definitely check it out if you haven’t already!!

Left: Field Rose    Right: Pink Heather

Hourglass Femne Rouge Lipstick in Fable

Recently, as I was browsing through Sephora, I stumbled across Hourglass Cosmetics. I have never paid too much attention to this brand before but after taking a look at some of their products, I realized its quite an amazing brand. I decided to try out one of the Femme Rouge Velvet Crème Lipsticks ($30).

The Femme Rouge formula is described as “a silky, richly pigmented formula that defines and shapes the lips as it moisturizes. It contains Vitamin E and claims to be water resistant. As you know, I am a sucker for a nude lipstick, so I choose the shade Fable, a beautiful pink-nude. Besides coming in cool, sleek packaging, the texture of this lipstick is so smooth and creamy. It in fact does provide a moisturizing formula that stays moisturizing and doesn't dry out . I don’ t have a nude shade quite like Fable. I have compared it to my other nude lipsticks and it really stands out. Overall, a great spur of the moment purchase!

Chanel Empriente Rouge Coco Shine

Included in Chanel's Summertime de Chanel 2012 Collection are two new Rouge Coco Shine lipsticks ($32.50), En Vogue and Empriente. Both are perfect shades for summer, one a bold coral (En Vogue) and one neutral (Empriente) and both are limited edition. I am not too fond of coral lips, even though it’s very on trend at the moment, but it just doesn’t suit me or maybe I haven’t found the right shade. Any who, I chose Empriente because as you know neutrals are my go to when it comes to lippies.

I simply love this color! Chanel describes this color as “soft beige” which is pretty on point but I would describe it more as a peachy nude with subtle shimmer. The texture is soft and shiny and applies flawlessly to the lips. The color is quite sheer but can be built up on my lips to give pretty decent coverage. One of my favorite ways to wear any of the Rouge Coco Shines is over the top of a great lip liner. I fill in my lips with the liner and top of with the Shine and it looks great. I use my Boots No. 7 Nude lip liner or Bobbi Brown Pale Pink with the Rouge Coco Shine shade Boy all the time. I tried out Empriente with Bobbi Brown Beige lip liner and it really brings more color to the lips and helps it last longer. I love the soft rose scent that the Rouge Coco Shines have as well. It’s nice to have a lipstick with a scent other than vanilla like most lipsticks out there.