TOP 5 | Best of Dolce&Gabbana Beauty Review

Dolce&Gabbana Beauty has been reinventing classics since the line first launched in 2009. The luxurious gilded packaging and diverse color range are nearly irresistible, and now you can find these phenomenal products at Nordstrom. I have dabbled with most of the brand's offerings, but here I will share my favorites are shared and reviewed in order of my preference after the jump!

Dolce&Gabbana retailers have always been limited and highly exclusive, so I had very little choice but to purchase all my selections sight unseen and with a strict no return policy. Now thanks to the D&G makeup launch at Nordstrom, I can explore freely instead of being concerned with how accurate the online swatches are. I've already loaded up my cart with nail polishes! I am so glad that Nordstrom is expanding their beauty offerings because it makes the best designer and niche brands more accessible to makeup mavens around the world. Dolce&Gabbana makeup deserves the spotlight!

Dolce&Gabbana Luminous Cheek Color Blush ($45 USD)

I tend to avoid bronzer and embrace the fairer look during the winter months. As a result, I recently rekindled my long-standing relationship with the blush in Tan. Since I love the illusion of sculpted cheekbones but would rather avoid the heavy drag queen-inspired cream contouring trend, I rely on The Luminous Cheek Color Blush in Tan. The cool grey-brown color is perfectly natural and believable, adding just enough depth to create contours. There are many other contour powders on the market these days, but Tan is fuss-free. I like to shade the sides of my nose, hollows of my cheeks, and jawline. I also adore the blushes in Peach, Nude, and Rosebud, because just like Tan, the matte powders are finely milled, ultra smooth and easy to blend. They also tend to last much longer than the average (eight to ten hours without fading) so these blushes are my top Dolce&Gabbana Beauty pick.

Dolce&Gabbana Perfect Matte Liquid Foundation ($63 USD)

I recently shared my thoughts on all three of the Dolce&Gabbana liquid foundations HERE, so please refer to the guide for additional details regarding The Luminous and The Reveal Lift formulas. The Perfect Matte Liquid Foundation is still my favorite because it performs so well even on my normal skin. Most matte foundations are far too drying for my skin to tolerate these days, but I can still wear Dolce & Gabbana's without worry. The formula provides light to full coverage, which makes it more versatile for those who do not want heavy coverage daily. I just love how well it hides redness and how long-lasting it is without clogging up my pores. Most days, I use my favorite face oil under to allow the soft-matte finish to warm up and glow naturally throughout the day instead of looking more 'retro' flat matte. Those with combination to oily skin can use a mattifying foundation primer and pair the foundation with the D&G Matte Powder (see below) for extra T-Zone oil control as well as additional coverage.

Dolce&Gabbana Matte Powder Foundation ($60 USD)

When I had combination skin, the D&G powder foundation was a lifesaver. It kept my oily bits at bay and looked flawless all day. This powder is also very versatile in that it can be worn wet or dry. I usually sponged it on dry for medium coverage or brushed it on for a sheer effect, but you can actually use it wet for full coverage and a velvet finish. Now, I do not recommend touching up with this powder because it tends to cake around the nose, so apply it in the mornings and use blotting sheets throughout the day to control oil breakthrough. The Matte Powder Foundation does work best on combination to oily skin, but normal skin can use it when the skin is prepped properly (ie: primed with a hydrating foundation base and/or finished with a hydrating spritz). I still love it for use on days when I am on set in front of studio lights that are so hot, they could melt cheese. I currently own it in Warm 100 but will order Soft 90 soon.

Dolce&Gabbana Voluptous Monica Lipstick ($34 USD)

I have tried the Classic Cream Color and Gloss Fusion Lipsticks, but the Monica formulation is my favorite from D&G. The Classic Cream lipsticks are intensely pigmented, but they are not what I consider moisturizing. The Voluptuous Monica Lipsticks, on the other hand, glides on effortlessly and makes my dry lips look smoother and fuller. For the most intense color effect, D&G recommends applying the lipstick, blotting with a tissue, and reapplying the lipstick. My favorites are Natural Monica and Gentle Monica as featured here, but Attractive Monica is the gorgeous red seen in the advertisement. True Monica and Nude Monica are extremely pale nudes, best reserved for evenings out when wearing a smoky eye. The warm coral, Only Monica, is one of the most popular shades in the range, but it is noticeably more translucent (more jelly) when compared to the opaque, creamy Natural and Gentle Monica. All, however, are beautiful in their own right and are the three most ideal shades for everyday use.

Dolce&Gabbana Smooth Eye Color Duo ($43 USD)

D&G eyeshadows are highly underrated. Gold 130 is my favorite Duo because of its metallic gleaming finish, but I also recommend Cinnamon 80 to those who prefer subtle, brightening eye makeup. I also have a soft spot for Blossom 103, which is one of the first Dolce & Gabbana Beauty products I ever purchased. Mystery 106 is an unexpected combination, but I think it can be appropriate for both day and night depending on placement. Try applying these Smooth Eye Color Duo Eyeshadows with a damp brush for more vibrancy and intensity. I have tried a couple of the quads, and although they are lovely, I feel the quality of the duos is more consistent. I have yet to try any of the matte shades, but the shimmery formula is silky smooth and wears beautifully on my normal lids without fading.

Dolce&Gabbana Beauty has much to offer, but I recommend you

start with these five as they have proven to be exceptional!

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