It's time to bid a final adieu to summer, even though Souther California has been experiencing an extreme heat wave this week! In honor of this scorching hot weather, I wanted to share my Burberry Summer 2016 London with Love collection picks. I already posted a review video a while back but I thought an update was necessary because I'm still so obsessed with the products! Luckily, they're still available. I took two of the lipsticks with me on my Southeast Asia trip and wore them the entire time!
I have been wearing very minimal makeup as of the past few months, but lipstick has become an everyday essential. When I wore eyeliner and eyeshadow daily, a sheer and shimmery lip gloss felt more appropriate. Now that I keep it quite simple with my base and mascara, I find that a swipe of a full pigment makes me look much more polished and feel more confident. It's mandatory to look alive!
The Burberry Kisses family is the latest and greatest in lip color! I show you my favorites in action in my new video, which you can watch below. I took your feedback from my other live lip swatch videos and shared both macro and wide views of each lip color. I picked three lip balms, lip glosses, and lipsticks that I felt were the most memorable and wearable but with the best pigmentation.
The most exciting launch since Tom Ford's Private Blend lipstick collection several years ago is finally upon us! I have three Christian Louboutin Lip Colours to share today — the Rouge Louboutin trifecta — the same color in three flawless formulas. Unlike the rest of the line's golden packaging, these signature shades are housed in black bullets. These Louboutin Charme lipsticks have now popped up on Sephora, Nordstrom, and Saks Fifth Avenue! Continue reading for my first impressions of each of the formulas xo
Laura Mercier's fabulous new Lip Parfait Creamy Colourbalm lives up to all the hype. I adore the rich, succulent color and glossy finish. These new lipsticks are available in twelve truly delectable shades, so check out the swatches of my top three picks after the jump!
This highly requested "What's In My Bag" episode is dedicated to my Saint Laurent Sac du Jour Nano Crossbody purse in smooth calfskin with golden hardware. I ordered mine from Neiman Marcus a week after I first spotted it on the website. A week after my bag arrived, it went on sale in both the nano and small sizes (now completely sold out).
As mentioned in the video, I unsnapped the back tabs since cinching the sleek gusseted sides prevents me from easily accessing the bag's contents. I try to handle my purses carefully, so I have been wearing the bag belted in the front but open in the back. The five golden feet at the bottom of the bag offer plenty of stability and protection, but it does not weigh the purse down whatsoever. The dimensions are quite smaller, even smaller than I expected, with a height of 8.5 inches, width of 7 inches, and depth of 4 inches.
The removable strap has a 20" drop, but I always wear it as a crossbody or on the shoulder. I removed the signature padlock charm because it was unexpectedly very heavy, and I did not want it to create indentations against the soft dove white leather. I love it so much that I am considering the small size now, which I think is the perfect hand-held size against my pear-shaped frame!
Saint Laurent currently offers the nano, Baby (approximately the size of my Celine Nano, although a bit wider), Small, and Classic sizes in a wide range of colors and textures. I usually prefer smooth leather, but I really love the new Warm Taupe in Grain Leather and Bright White in Grain Leather. Some retailers refer to the sizes by different names than my Saint Laurent boutique SA does, so it's best to double check the measurements before ordering online. I hope you found this bag review helpful! xo
Burberry recently reformulated their signature lipsticks, now called the Kisses Lip Color. I will be sharing eight today, but there are a whopping 26 buildable shades available. Burberry retained the shiny magnetized packaging and classic Burberry check embossment on the bullet, but the formula is different, so do read all about it after the jump!
The wait is finally over! I have tested and swatched all samples of Tom Ford's phenomenal (and mostly limited edition) Summer 2015 Soleil Collection. Product details and photos, repromoted shade information, and pricing can be found after the jump!
Haul videos are still some of my most popular, and they're the most fun for me to film! Win-win! Today, I added a personal touch with my weight loss journey. It has been a slow and steady journey, but with every passing week, I am closing in on my goals. Many of you have noticed and asked me to talk about how I did it!
I want to make it clear that this is a lifestyle overhaul, not just temporary cutting of the number I see on the scale (although it definitely feels nice to see it shrink). I officially gave up ice cream, which I have never done before, and I rarely ever eat fast food now. I avoid MSG like it's the plague, and I try to eat fresh whole foods like leafy greens and nutrient-dense carrots whenever possible. I went vegan at the end of December to start the purging stage, which was 10 days of torture, but now I have few cravings for red meat! I eat a lot of seafood these days. Pizza is still my weakness, but I have pretty successfully changed the way I eat and see food (particularly meat and carbs). You see, I am a stress eater. And I was very, very stressed for a while, meaning I was eating excessively large portions and in general, a lot of ramen and ice cream and Jack-in-the-Box at 1 AM. Of course I knew better, but I stopped caring after a while, even when none of my clothes fit.
Since eating cleaner, I have been sleeping better. I drink a ton of water and caffeine-free herbal tea so my skin also looks better. I am more productive and the best part is, I am finally exercising regularly again! I was in the best shape of my life 2 years ago, and I have truly missed sweating it out. I have a long way to go in terms of my ideal figure, but I am optimistic. I ran three miles today, which I physically had not been able to do a mere 3 months ago. I usually don't get this personal, but I just want others to know that LIFE HAPPENS! Poke fun at my double chin and acne scars, but that's life — the sad, depressing, ugly stages are all part of the process. We succeed, we fall, we crawl back up, we change, we move on and grow up! Have courage and be kind (new Cinderella movie reference), and I promise, good things will come xo
Tom Ford's Lips&Boys Lipsticks finally hit stores last month, and they have been selling like hot cakes! I have ten of the 50 "mini" color collection ($32 USD each) to share with you, and they are all individually unique and beautiful. These Lips&Boys boast 0.07 grams of product while the full-sized Lip Colors contain 1.0 grams. The quality is impressive and the colors are highly pigmented as expected. Check out the swatches after the jump!
Have you ever walked by a NARS counter at Nordstrom and stared in awe at the rows and rows of the sophisticated makeup but were too intimidated to buy? Well, if you've ever felt overwhelmed, this guide is for you. I hope it will help you figure out where to start or at the very least, bring you up to speed on some fabulous makeup you've been overlooking!
It has been a couple weeks since I have been able to release a video, so I am quite excited to share my take on Charlotte Tilbury's Holiday 2014 The Supermodel look with you! There has been a lot of buzz regarding the differences between the Fallen Angel and Reve d'Orient eyeshadow palettes, so I wanted to take extra time here to show you the highly requested swatches and comparisons.
I, however, wanted to share first that as popular as Fallen Angel has been, the sell out product from this collection has been the Confession K.I.S.S.I.N.G. Lipstick! Confession is a lovely pink-beige that flatters any complexion, and the creamy opaque formula is winning everyone over. I absolutely adore how it performs on my sensitive, dry lips. It's selling out everywhere, and is only available at Bergdorf Goodman or within The Supermodel Makeup Collection (set with pouch) or The Supermodel Makeup Collection Tutorial Video Box (Limited Edition).
As apprehensive as I was about the lipstick and lip gloss, both have impressed me beyond measure! I love how Confession and Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds look when layered, so I highly recommend you give them a try. Note: LSD appears more peach in swatches than it does on my lips.
Bardot Beige vs Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds
Shade Comparisons:
→ The champagne in Fallen Angel is ultra smooth but not as reflective as the white in Reve d'Orient. The white in the Chanel palette also has a golden sheen, which makes it a more noticeable highlighter. I love both, but the champagne in Fallen Angel is more appropriate for day time, especially if you work in an office setting.
→ The taupe in Fallen Angel and the gold in Reve d'Orient are complete opposites, so this is where the two palettes obviously differ. I love the taupe in the pan, but it translates strongly metallic silver on my yellow-toned skin. I prefer the buttery smooth antique gold in Reve d'Orient because it is more flattering, but those with neutral, pink, and even olive-toned skin will most likely adore the taupe in Fallen Angel.
→ The bronze in Fallen Angel looks most similar to the bronze in Reve d'Orient (even in swatches), but they are entirely different when worn on my eyes. Fallen Angel's bronze is far cooler and more shimmery while Chanel's bronze is strongly warm and satin. Different textures and tones.
→ The black in Fallen Angel contains a high volume of shimmer, which makes the eyeshadow more translucent at first swipe. The satin black in Reve d'Orient is very intense and is better suited for use as eyeliner than the black in Fallen Angel. Both have similar amounts of fallout, but the shimmer in Fallen Angel's black makes it a little messier.
Ultimately, I find the Fallen Angel palette easier to wear on a daily basis. You can create a beautiful, cool taupe eyeshadow look and reserve the black for evenings out. The colors are ultra smooth and consistent, a step up from the quality of most CT quads (which are already great). As much as I love working with cool tones, Chanel's Reve d'Orient produces an undeniable unique, warm smoky eye. I do like using the white highlighter alone in inner tear duct area when I'm having a minimal makeup day — which happens more and more often these days. Pair with lots of mascara for bigger, brighter eyes.
I know many have been looking forward to this video, so I hope you'll enjoy both the recap of the products as well as the tutorial! Thanks so much for your patience during this hectic Holiday season, and please feel free to leave any questions here on the blog or on YouTube xo
Over the years, I have been asked repeatedly for introductory brand guides, so I have been focusing heavily on these Top 5 edits this quarter. Since I am often short on time and cannot always dedicate extra time to permanent products when limited edition collections roll out faster and faster each year, these curated reviews have allowed me to share old favorites. I am thrilled to spotlight one of my favorite niche brands, Hourglass Cosmetics, now available via Nordstrom. Hourglass has been rather elusive over the years, so this first department store launch will finally make their incredible products accessible to more of my readers! Explore my must-have selections from Hourglass after the jump xo
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!
Giorgio Armani makes some of the best designer makeup that money can buy. So despite the fact that Holiday collections (including Armani's) are rolling out in full force, I wanted to share the beauty of the Fall 2014 Fade to Grey collection. Furthermore, I wanted to demonstrate that the new Eye & Brow Maestro can be used on both naturally full and incredibly spare, thin brows like mine!
Now, some of you may have noticed that I did not include the nail polishes or the liquid eyeliners in the video (due to time constraints). Armani's standard formula is super glossy, but these Fall 2014 nail polish shades actually have a matte finish. I loved how effortless the application of the formula was — ultra smooth and self leveling. The color lasted a few days without chipping, which is fairly impressive for matte nails. The mineral tones of the Fall 2014 Eyes to Kill liquid eyeliners provide a "no-makeup" makeup feel due to the subtlety of the colors. The color is long-lasting and semi-transparent with a gel texture that is perfect for everyday wear.
I love all kinds of lipstick, but I especially love tinted lip balms. Believe it or not, it is much easier to find a fabulous full-pigment lipstick than a quality tinted lip balm. I have tried just about every single one offered from Sephora, Nordstrom, and Neiman Marcus, but the search always continues for the best. Though I only got around to trying these recently, Sisley launched the Phyto-Lip Twists earlier this year, and they may very well earn my Holy Grail Award. Check out more details and swatches after the jump!
