Prime Beauty has a beauty find that's a steal! An awesome collaboration with YouTuber Chloe Morello has resulted in the fabulous Ciaté London Beauty Haul Makeup Set and it's a great value too!
Over at Phyrra, Courtney and former Urban Decay Makeup Artist Mickey bring you the perfect Glam Glitter Winged Liner Tutorial! It's great for the Holidays.
Yikes, Christmas and Hanukkah are here! So if there’s any last minute gifts you need for her, Allison from Never Say Die Beauty has some great, affordable suggestions from The Body Shop!
Have you seen this year’s Guerlain Holiday Collection? It’s always a daydreaming beauty favorite, and this year does not disappoint! Check out the glam Shalimar inspired collection here.
Beauty Info Zone has a great giveaway for Vertere Skincare. What better way to start the new year than with new skin goodies?
The Too Faced + Kat Von D Better Together Collection launches on Boxing Day and you don't want to miss this collection! Perilously Pale shares with us a review and swatches of the full launch!
Justina's Gems loves Cover FX and the new Click Highlighters are no exception! Read about her favorites and see some swatches by checking out the review!
Head to Blushing Noir and find the perfect way to keep casual on New Years Eve, but still dress up that basic white tee!
My devotion to TATCHA skincare is a well-known fact, and when I was perusing the sales at Sephora, I was shocked to find the TATCHA LUMINOUS Luxuries Set on sale. The deal is so impressive that I immediately purchased one, but am now contemplating several more because the deal is absolutely outstanding. This set is a perfect holiday gift and hostess gift, and anyone who loves luxury skincare would be utterly smitten to receive this gem! The set Holiday Exclusive Limited Edition set– therefore if you are interested do not contemplate it for too long.
This set contains:
- Luminous Dewy Skin Mist (Full Size 1.35 oz/ 40 m. Reviewed HERE)
- Gold Camellia Nourishing Lip Balm (Full Size 0.28 oz/ 8 g. Reviewed HERE)
- Aburatorigami Japanese Beauty Papers (Full Size 30 sheets) (Reviewed HERE)
- Gold-leaf travel mirror
According to TATCHA,
A four-piece set of on-the-go favorites for luminous, dewy skin, touchably soft lips, and a petal-fresh complexion—plus, a purse-size gold-leaf mirror. The path to luminosity begins with this four-piece set of gilded treasures. Luminous Dewy Skin Mist is a liquid, fine mist moisturizer that works under and over makeup for dewy, luminous skin. The ultra-hydrating Gold Camellia Nourishing Lip Balm contains hand-laid 24-karat gold leaf to add a touch of sensual, golden shimmer. Aburatorigami Japanese Beauty Papers are gold-flecked blotting papers that whisk away excess oil without disturbing makeup. Ideal for touch-ups on the go, the travel mirror was created by gold-leaf artisans in Japan.
Aburatorigami Japanese Beauty Papers Ingredients: Abaca Leaf: Absorbent but gentle on skin. Gold Flakes: Mark of authenticity from gold leaf artisans.
Free of: Parabens, Sulfates and Phthalates.
Overall Assessment: This is an extraordinary value, and if you love TATCHA, or have been wanting to try their ultra-luxe line– then it is a must-have in my view. This is also a perfect gift this holiday season!
Admittedly, I am a super-fan of all things Shu Uemura and Shu Uemura Art of Hair, and the Shu holiday collaborations rank among my favorites. This year, Shu is joining forces with Takashi Murakami, a contemporary Japanese artist– who I have loved long before I was a blogger, or an Art Historian, for that matter. Murakami has long blurred the boundary between High and Low Art– and his highly recognizable smiling flowers are the motifs used in his fantastic collaboration with Shu Uemura.
According to The Broad Museum,
Takashi Murakami is one of the most visible and important Japanese artists working today. Murakami’s influence on Japan rivals Andy Warhol’s on the United States, and he is known for disseminating and promoting pop art strategies in ways unforeseen by American critics and artists. Unifying many strands of culture that are frequently considered in opposition—traditional Japanese painting with Western influences, the realm of fine art with otaku lifestyle (juvenile culture obsessed with toys, anime, and video games), and commercial retail spaces with museums and other public venues—Murakami’s work is recognized for its ambition, polish, and fine execution.
Cleansing Oil Gentle Radiance Cleanser For Normal Hair And Scalp ($57.00 for 13.4 oz. from Shu Uemura Art of Hair): SHU UEMURA Art of Hair Cleansing Oil Shampoo is described as a, "delicate formula that transforms quickly into a rich foam that effectively draws out the impurities and build-up on the scalp without stripping the natural oils. Leaves hair naturally radiant, soft and in balanced state – volumized and moisturized." Paraben and silicone free.
This shampoo is made for dry scalp and hair, but it will do wonders for all types of hair. It is so gentle and non-stripping that my hair is manageable before I even condition my hair. It deeply and gently cleanses the hair and scalp, and it hydrates without overdoing it. Hair is never left greasy or feeling dirty, but instead feels nourished, moisturized and soothed. Furthermore, my hair is left soft, supple and shiny when I use this shampoo, and for me that is something that I am generally only able to achieve with a richly moisturizing conditioner. Additionally, the scent is absolutely an intoxicatingly beautiful and refined fruity floral.
Perfect for all hair types and textures, the oil-to-foam formula binds with the grease and product buildup on your scalp before gently whisking them away. At the same time, it respects your hair’s natural oils, so your strands never feel dry or stripped. Finally, it adds bounce and body to your locks while leaving behind a calming yuzu citrus scent. All in all, it’s a true superhero product.
While this shampoo is made with dry hair and scalp in mind, it is so gentle and nourishing that its benefits are far more reaching for all types of hair. This is one of the most luxurious and exceptional shampoos that I have ever used, and it is so much more than a mere shampoo that it really deserves a whole different category of its own. It is such a joy to use that I find myself savoring the experience of washing my hair, and that is something that I seldom do! A+
According to Shu Uemura,
This holiday season, shu uemura collaborates with world renown contemporary Japanese artist Takashi Murakami. Our iconic Cleansing Oil Shampoo has been decorated with Murakami's iconic flowers for a limited-edition makeover. Cleansing oil shampoo formulated with delicate ingredients that leave the hair balanced--with both moisture and volume--without stripping the scalp of its natural oils. The shampoo transforms into a rich foam that effectively draws out the impurities and buildup on the scalp. Leaves hair soft and shiny with a lightweight finish. Safe on color-treated hair. Paraben and silicone free. Onsen is known in Japan for its purification properties to cleanse and nourish the hair. Onsen-inspired Ferment is drawn from volcanic sources, situated 2000m deep off the California coast, and is renowned for its ancestral benefits on the mind and body.
Directions: Apply a quarter-size amount of the Cleansing Oil Shampoo to wet hair. Massage into scalp using fingers and palms. Rinse thoroughly. For oilier scalps, repeat steps 1-3.
FRAGRANCE: Camellia Petal
TOP NOTES: Grapefruit, Green, Aqueous
MIDDLE NOTES: Camellia, White Essence, Heliotrope
BASE NOTES: Powdery, Gourmand, Musk
According to Shu Uemura,
This holiday season, shu uemura collaborates with world renown contemporary Japanese artist Takashi Murakami. Our best-selling Essence Absolue Nourishing Protective Oil has been decorated with Murakami's iconic flowers for a limited-edition makeover. Multi-use hair oil that moisturizes and protects hair with intense nutrition. Camellia Oil absorbs rapidly, deep into the hair's cortex, leaving it soft and silky with high shine. This velvety hair oil rebalances the hair's moisture level and provides all-day UV protection without weighing down even the finest of hair. Formulated for daily use. Safe on color-treated hair.
Directions: Apply 1-2 pumps to dry hair from roots to tips before shampooing or afterward as a leave-in treatment.
GREAT FOR:
Sleek Blowouts
High-Shine Updos
Healthy Looking Lengths
Directions: To use as a styling aid, apply 1 pump to your hands (a little goes a long way) and work through hair from mid-lengths to ends. To use as a pre-shampoo treatment, use 3-4 pumps and comb into dry hair before shampooing. To use as a conditioning treatment, apply 1 pump each to 4 sections of hair from mid-lengths through ends, and massage into scalp. Leave overnight and style as normal in the morning.
Anti-Oxi+ Skin Refining Cleansing Oil ($37.00 for 150 ml and $77.00 for 450 ml from Shu Uemura): This antioxidant-rich cleansing oil, which is formulated for all types of skin, gently and effectively lifts dirt, makeup and impurities from the skin without ever leaving skin stripped, and without an unwanted oily residue. I simply massage it into my skin and and a small amount of warm water to emulsify the oil, and aroma calms the senses while the skin is being nourished and cleansed. Skin is left undeniably soft, supple and radiant. It can be used by itself, or as the first step in a double cleansing routine.
According to Shu Uemura,
Anti/Oxi is a cleansing oil with enhanced power to remove micro impurities and stubborn make-up with no residue. Shu Uemura’s latest anti-pollution breakthrough, Anti/Oxi with moringa and green tea extracts are combined for a more powerful removability. Anti/Oxi is balanced to provide a sensation that is refreshing and relaxing by awakening your senses at first touch with a top note of elemi, mandarin and ginger. During massaging, a stimulating and comforting middle note of lavender, cardamom and geranium invigorates your senses. After washing, you sense a healing base note of guaiac wood. An extraordinary cleansing experience that brings intoxicating fresh and relaxing scents to everyday cleansing rituals and restores dull yellow skin to a refined, supple and radiant complexion.
Rouge Unlimited Murakami Holiday Collection ($30.00 each from Shu Uemura): If you love Shu Uemura lipsticks, then you can only imagine the extent to which you will covet the 2016 Holiday Rouge Unlimited Sheer Shine lipsticks. I have Pinky Bloom and OR 520, and both are utterly gorgeous. They both glide across the lips effortlessly, deposit color evenly, and they neither bleed into lip lines, nor do they migrate. The texture is lusciously smooth, and the beautifully emollient lipsticks melt into the lips. While the formula is designed to be slightly transparent with a sheen, it is buildable, and the pigmentation is impressive. Finally, both shades have the perfect amount of cushion, are very comfortable on the lips, and I get several hours of wear time from each.
According to Shu Uemura,
2016 holiday rouge unlimited sheer shine comes in 5 shades carefully selected to maximize balance with multi-colored ombre eyes.
The new rouge unlimited sheer shine is a lightly melting lipstick with a slightly transparent finish with floating pearls and smooth texture.
Top to Bottom: OR 520 and Pinky Bloom
OR 520 is a Peachy Orange shade that is sightly more opaque than Pinky Bloom, and it has a slightly creamier finish. Pinky Bloom, on the other hand, is slightly more sheer and the glossy finish is punctuated by shimmer.
Top to Bottom: OR 520 and Pinky Bloom
Not the luminosity as the swatches receive more direct light.
Overall Assessment: If you love Shu Uemura haircare, skincare and makeup, then you probably won't want to miss out on this fantastic collaboration with Takashi Murakami! A+ Collection!
By Terry's iconic Baume de Rose (Reviewed HERE) has been one of my very favorite luxury lip balms since I first began using it years ago, and the new limited editionBy Terry Impearlious Baume De Rose Set ($65.00 for five 0.08 oz. balms from Space NK, Space NK in Nordstrom and Space NK in Bloomingdale's) is the ultimate By Terry luxury lip set. Each 0.08 oz. (the full size features 0.238fl. oz) ultra-chic lip treatment boasts the effective lip-saving Baume de Rose formula, but 4 of the 5 shades are infused with subtle color and gorgeous luminous pearl.
The creamy textured balms leave lips soft, supple, hydrated and silky smooth. The limited-edition pearlized shades offer a sheer wash of pearlized color, a gorgeous shine, and they are absolutely gorgeous on the lips. I do not have particularly pigmented lips, and therefore you can detect a definite difference in each of the shades. However, these are sheer-leaning balms, and if you have very pigmented lips you will likely detect very little difference between them– instead you will see sheer coverage with a hint of color and the beautiful pearlized luminescence.
Baume de Rose has a rather thick consistency that thoroughly coats the lips without feeling heavy or uncomfortable. It is not sticky in the least bit, and has the perfect amount of cushion. It has the quintessential By Terry rose scent, which I find delightful, but may be problematic to those who avoid scented lip products.
The original Baume de Rose imparts a sheer milky pink hue, and it makes my lips appear more plump, and in addition to being sumptuous all by itself- it also makes a lovely base for lipstick.
All of the Baume de Rose balms in this set can be worn alone, or paired with your favorite lipsticks.
Set Includes:
Nº 100 Frozen Queen: is described as, "evanescent, like a pearl of the South Seas." I would describe this shade as a sheer taupe-like hue with shimmering silver pearl.
Nº 200 Fresco Rose: is described as, "pink, delicate and refined, like a freshwater pearl." This is a stunning pink infused with silver pearl.
Nº 300 Frost Fire: is described as, "red baroque, fiery like an Oriental pearl." This is a gorgeous burnished copper with peach undertones and golden peach shimmer.
Nº 400 Freezy Berry: is described as, "bitten-lips effect, inspired by the rare purple pearl." This balm has a gorgeous purple base that is punctuated by lilac or lavender shimmer.
Original Baume de Rose: is described as, "the inimitable luster of a natural pearl." It is mostly sheer, but it does impart a subtle, milky pink hue on my lips.
Features:
The Hydroskin complex, a combination of filling spheres and active ingredients of lipid origin, provides optimal hydration.
Biotechnological ceramides deliver youthfulness and density thanks to their restructuring and firming action and their smoothing effect.
Vitamin E, a powerful antioxidant, and Sun Protection Factor 15 protect the lips against the harmful effects of light and help to fight against aging.
A lipo-regenerating complex made up of Rose Flower Essential Wax with softening and astringent properties, Pastel Oil to boost cell renewal, and Shea Butter with healing and soothing benefits, supplies strength, nutrition and comfort.
According to By Terry,
A curated collection of five tubes of Baume de Rose, preciously nestled inside a signature gift box. Sized for travel, these balms are saturated with precious active ingredients and melt into your lips with silky, hydrating texture. Each is lightly scented with notes of rose.
Ingredients: Diisostearyl Malate, Ricinus Communis (Castor) Seed Oil, Synthetic Wax, Hydroxystearic/Linolenic/Oleic Polyglycerides, Tridecyl Trimellitate, Methyl Hydrogenated Rosinate, Hydrogenated Polyisobutene, Polyethylene, Butyrospermum Parkii/Shea Butter, Stearalkonium Hectorite, C20-40 Acid, Parfum/Fragrance, Tocopherol, Synthetic Fluorphlogopite, Rosa Centifolia Flower Cera/Rosa Centifolia Flower Wax, Rosa Damascena Flower Cera/Rosa Damascena Flower Wax, Ethylhexyl Palmitate, Propylene Carbonate, Silica, Calcium Aluminum Borosilicate, Geraniol, Trihydroxypalmitamidohydroxypropyl Myristyl Ether, Citronellol, Linalool, Silica Dimethyl Silylate, Tin Oxide, Benzyl Benzoate, Butylene Glycol, Caprylyl Glycol, Citral, Eugenol, Phenoxyethanol, Sodium Hyaluronate, Hexylene Glycol, Citric Acid, +/- (Mica, Ci 77891/Titanium Dioxide, Ci 77491/Iron Oxides, Ci 77499/Iron Oxides, Ci 45410/Red 28 Lake, Ci 42090/Blue 1 Lake, Ci 75470/Carmines).
Note the intense luminosity.
If you are interested in trying By Terry Baume de Rose, but prefer to buy a full sized, or mini single– then here are other choices to consider: BY TERRY Baume de Rose Crystalline ($28.00 for 0.08 oz. from Space NK and $53.00 for 0.238fl. oz from Space NK).
Overall Assessment: As a huge fan of By Terry Baume de Rose, I am utterly smitten with the By Terry Impearlious Baume De Rose Set. I find the formula, sheer wash of color, and pearlized luminescence absolute unmitigated perfection. If, however, you have particularly pigmented lips, and are seeking more opacity, then you need to be advised that this set is definitely more sheer than opaque.
I really love cream eyeshadows, and the By Terry Ombre Blackstar Eyeshadows are my very favorite. I have used them for years, and they are the cream shadows that I reach for the most.
The By Terry Ombre Blackstar formula is long-lasting, budge-proof and smudge-proof from the moment that it sets until the time that you remove it– I kid you not! In fact, I have to use a duo-phase makeup remover to take it off. However, if you have particularly oily eyelids your wear-time may vary, and you may find the need to use a primer.
The luxurious texture is creamy and buttery soft lending itself to effortlessly gliding across the eyelids without incident. However, you do need to blend it out rather quickly since it won't budge once it sets. Unlike some long-wearing cream eyeshadows, that seem to tug on the lids once they dry, By Terry Ombre Blackstar Color-Fix Cream Eyeshadows feel natural on the eyelids without any discomfort or pulling. When I apply them it in the morning before leaving for work, they remain steadfastly in place without cracking, peeling, fading, transferring or smudging until I remove them. I have worn them from 7AM until Midnight, and they never fail me. The pigmentation is sensational, and is matched by the overall exquisite quality of the eyeshadow pencils themselves.
If you are interested in one or two shades, then it is probably worth just buying them individually, but BY TERRY Impearlious Ombre Blackstar Gift Collection features 5 of their top-selling shades in full-sizes for $155.00 (rather than the normal $44.00 for each).
According to By Terry the Ombre Blackstar offers,
A flawless, buildable, light-reflecting eye shadow that delivers instant lift and radiance. Formulated with Tahitian Black Pearl, By Terry’s Ombre Blackstar provides luminous color for lusciously smooth lids with just a single stroke of the easy-to-use pen applicator. Its smudge and smear-free formula instantly airbrushes out skin creases, delivering light-reflecting radiance that acts as a rejuvenating lift for the eye area. Incredibly easy-to-apply, this luxuriously creamy eye shadow boasts supremely buildable coverage that’s perfect for creating a dramatic smoky eye, while adhesive polymers provide a color-fixing effect that means your makeup stays impeccably fresh all day long.
Tips: Draw a line at the roots of the eyelashes for a perfect liner effect. Colour the entire eyelid, or blend with your fingertips all the way up to the eyebrows for an easy and quick smokey effect. Create your own made-to-measure look by mixing two or three shades.
BY TERRY Impearlious Ombre Blackstar Gift Collection Includes:
Nº 1 Black Pearl: is a dark blackened gun-metal with stunning luminescent pearl.
Nº 3 Blond Opal: is a stunning gold with golden shimmer.
Nº 4 Bronze Moon: is the perfect neutral and infinitely wearable bronzey taupe shade. It has gorgeous refined shimmer that brightens the eyes without over-doing it. Bronze Moon is the perfect stand alone shade that is at once elegant and perfect as a wash of color, and it's as close to a fuss-free swatch and go shade that I could hope for!
Nº 6 Frozen Quartz: is a breathtaking shimmering peachy pink.
Nº 15 Ombre Mercure: is a golden taupe with the slightest green shift. It is a complex shade that may be my favorite Ombre Blackstar to date.
Note the stunning luminosity in each of the shades
Gift Box:
Overall Assessment: The By Terry Ombre Blackstar Eyeshadows are unquestionably luxurious and expensive, but they are truly extraordinary. If you think that you would wear all of the colors in the set, then it is well worth the splurge– especially since you save $65.00 ($155.00 vs. $220.00 purchased individually), but if you only want one or two, then it is worth purchasing them individually. A+
