YSL Rouge Volupté Shines - Review and Swatches

Hi everyone, I thought I would share with you my small collection of YSL Rouge Volupté Shines. 

I must admit that these are some of my favorite lipstick formulas out there. They feel on the lips are so smooth and lightweight. On top of that, they are long lasting.

These YSL Rouge Volupté Shines were purchased at either Sephora or Nordstrom (or if you are interested in these, check out anywhere that sells YSL makeup products). 

They retail for $35 and there are approximately 18 shades in the range.

The packaging is timeless and so luxe. I love how expensive and kind of heavy it feels in the hand. If you are going to be spending more than drugstore prices, I would expect nice quality and durable packaging that fits the price tag.

In the middle of the casing, you can see a "swatch" or a color indicator of the lipstick which is great because it does not look cheap and somewhat accurate.

As you can see from the picture above and below that I have used these lipsticks. Some more than others haha.

I absolutely love #12 in the summer months because it brings so much life to your face and look. It's so effortless to slap it on and go. When I wear #12, it will last me a solid 4-5 hours with a nice gradual fading/staining effect.

#9 is my go-to, ultimate favorite nude in my entire lipstick collection. It might be too dark for some but it's perfect for me. I have pigmented lipstick and this helps tone that down but has a little shine and some color. LOVE this one.

I would go for #5 and #17 during the fall or the transition from summer to fall. I think they are a touch too dark for the spring and summer. But the pigmentation is on point and apply beautifully.

Here are the swatches:

I LOVE this formula from YSL. They make a lipstick that stays on the lips and provides a slight staining effect. I think they are well worth the investment because: the packaging is gorgeous, the formula is perfection and provides a nice glossy finish to your lips, it stains your lips a little, and the color selection is great!

That's it for me. Do you have any favorites from YSL, whether they are Rouge Volupté Shines or anything else from the line? I would love to know them in the comments!!

I hope you enjoyed the post. And I will talk to you all soon :)

Bianca

Chanel Rouge Coco Shine in 46 Liberté - Review and Swatch

I purchased this Chanel Rouge Coco Shine sort of recently from my local Nordstrom and I was swatching colors that were "calling my name" and I fell in love with this one immediately. Like, I did not think twice about it.

What I love about this Rouge Coco Shine is that it is like a tinted balm; depends what shade you get, the pigment is more opaque than others. 

This one I have here to share with you is #46 - Liberté shade and I want to describe this is a very wearable nude with hints of pink, coral, and peach. Sounds like a mish-mash of colors but that's what comes to mind haha. 

 As you can see from the bullet, it looks like it would be a slightly bright coral red but it is extremely sheer.

When you apply it to your lips, it's a no brainer. I never look in the mirror because it's sheer enough to just slap it on but pigmented enough to pull your look together.

As you can see from the swatches, the top one is three swipes of the Liberté and the bottom one is a single swipe.

It can be built up in opacity but don't expect it to eventually layer up to match the color from the bullet.

The wear time of Liberté is not as great as other lip products I own but it's so easy that I do not mind reapplying when I need to. I want to see I get a solid 2-3 hours without eating or drinking anything. But if you do either of those things, it will disappear quite quickly.

I would recommend it if you don't mind reapplying relatively often, don't mind it being a glorified tinted lip balm, and don't mind the price tag of $32-34 (?) of a Chanel Rouge Coco Shine.

Do any of you own others from this range or any Chanel lipstick that is your favorite or must have? Leave them in the comment down below. I'd love to hear from you all :)

Hope you are well,
Bianca :)

Tom Ford Lip Color Shine in #10 Willful - Review and Swatch

I was itching to get another Tom Ford lip product but I wanted to test out the Lip Color Shine range (that kind of reminds me of Chanel Rouge Coco Shines but slightly more pigmented). 

I was swatching up a storm at my local Tom Ford counter and I was torn between Nubile and Willful. I was on the verge of playing it safe and going with Nubile since it was a nude, every day kind of shade but right as I was about to make my decision, I sprung for Willful instead. I'm crazy haha and indecisive. But I'm so glad I went with Willful.

Willful is this bright strawberry red that is PERFECT for this time of year. It really lights up your face in a way I couldn't believe. It gives your complexion this healthy look. Crazy, I know, since it is a lip product but it's the right kind of shade for the spring and summer months.

With the Lip Color Shine range, these retail for $48 (instead of the $49 of the Lip Color range). These line is more hydrating as it has a special blend of oils that conditions and moisturizes your lips.

The packaging on these Shines is thinner and sleeker than the normal Lip Color range. I like both packaging but the Shines actually fit in the little hole/space in my lipstick holder! haha

As you can see, it has that classic mahogany and gold casing. It is quite heavy (for a lipstick) despite the sleeker packaging.

It does not have TF embossed like all the other TF lip sticks which bums me out slightly but you'd wear it down with use anyways :P.

Here is the swatch of that beauty. This is two swipes of Willful and it's pigmented enough to warrant buying or looking at it. It is not a glorified, slightly tinted, lip balm. A lot of the shades in the TF lip range pack a real punch when it comes to pigmentation.

Due to the fact that it is a lip shine, the wear time is not as long. Through drinking and snacking on some munchies, I got a solid 4 hours of wear (compared to almost 7 hours with the Lip Color range).

What do you think of Tom Ford's line? Over hyped? Or do you love it? Let me know your favorites or what you have on your wishlist in the comments :)

Hope you enjoyed this quick review,
Bianca :)

Tom Ford Lip Color in #03 Casablanca - Swatch and Review

Well... I purchased my first lipstick from Tom Ford (from the permanent range). I have been eyeing this range since I first laid eyes on Tom Ford and I couldn't justify (at the time) spending almost $50 on ONE lipstick. I only took the plunge on this because I got my Ebates cash back check and well I knew what I wanted to do with it when I cashed it ;).

Some of the shades at my local Tom Ford counter were sold out but I was able to get my hands on one that I truly like. 

Tom Ford Casablanca Lip Color.

I seem to gravitate towards these kinds of colors... I don't know why. *maybe I'm in a constant state of Autumn/Winter* ~Thanks Seattle....~ haha.

Anyways, here are some pictures of the packaging and the bullet itself.

Casablanca is this berry toned, plum-y, mauve-y(?), pink shade. A horrible description on my part haha. Describing color is like describing fragrances...it's impossible haha.

Here is the official description of the color: reddened plum.

It is a cream finish, which is my favorite kind of favorite out there. And it has a slight shine to it.

I love how Tom Ford Lip Colors have the TF embossed at the top of the lipstick. It adds that touch of luxury to it's products. I personally love that little detail in makeup when brands do that.

Here is the swatch of the lipstick. On the left is one swipe of the lipstick and the right was swiped three times to build up color.

It is easy to build up to full opacity with this lipstick in particular and the color is so beautiful.

I wore this today and I applied it at around 8:30 AM. I drank my smoothie, coffee, was at work until 5, and was just busy all day. It wore on me, with slight fading, for an almost solid 6-7 hours.

I went to the restroom at 2 PM and I was amazed at how well it lasted through the drinking and just time passing by. I'm truly impressed with this lipstick and the lasting power of it.

I do realize that spending $48 on one lipstick is not everyone's cup o' tea but if you have money to splurge or looking to try a luxury lipstick. I think this range in general is one to look at. If you are on the fence, go in store or check out other beauty bloggers that have a more extensive Tom Ford collection for other views and swatches.

I hope you all enjoyed this review on the Casablanca Lip Color from Tom Ford. If you have any questions, feel free to ask them down below.

Hope you are all well,
Bianca :)

Burberry Lip Cover Soft Satin Lipstick in No. 9 Blush

Seems like I can't get enough lipsticks in this color range.... haha. Here is my VERY first Burberry product. And man, I picked a good one ;).

This is the Burberry Lip Cover Soft Satin lipstick in No. 9 Blush. It's a pretty pink with a coral undertone and with tinnyyy specks of micro golden shimmer (barely detectable on the lips). 

The packaging is a stunner. Even the box is nice enough to keep. Comes in a sturdy cardboard with the classic Burberry logo and font.

The lipstick case is a gunmetal color with the Burberry pattern etched onto the top part of the lipstick. 

 Check out the lipstick bullet, it also has the Burberry pattern embossed onto it. It really give this lip range an extra notch of classiness. *Also, you don't feel bad as you use if it had had something embossed to the top of the bullet (like TF on Tom Ford Lipsticks)* haha

It is a creamy texture and a dream to apply on the lipsticks. It is like 85-90% opaque which I love. It's an easy pick for an everyday shade and I love that it goes with a ton of different looks :).

Another great thing about this lipstick is that it is not so glossy that it applies sheer but it's has that opacity with the shine that give this lip color an amazing finish that is right up my alley.

Any thoughts about Burberry lipsticks? I want more, do you guys have an faves from this range? :)

Talk to you all soon!!
Bianca

HAUL: MAC Lipsticks - Swatches of Fanfare and Cosmo

There is something about MAC lipsticks that one cannot help but want to collect them. I was VERY VERY late on the MAC lipstick bandwagon. #ashamed haha

My interest in MAC lipsticks was piqued by the Riri Hearts MAC collection. I have never felt so compelled to get as much as I could from a collection since I first fell in love with makeup. 

But aside from that haha, I have slowly added to my MAC lipstick collection and today I bring to you: Fanfare and Cosmo.

MAC Lipstick in Fanfare - Cremesheen 

MAC Lipstick in Cosmo - Amplified 

Left: Fanfare // Right: Cosmo

You are probably thinking... "hmm, they kind of look the same..." and I'll half agree with you haha. There are differences which is why I was okay with buying them (at the same time haha).

Fanfare is a mid tone pink with a coral undertone with a cremesheen finish. So no glitter, no frost, just a nice creamy formula. With cremesheen finish lipsticks, they are not 100% opaque but they pack a punch either way with a glossy finish. Personally, my favorite finish of lipstick MAC offers.

Cosmo is an amplified finished lipstick that is described as a "pink coco". I think of it as a way more pigmented and slightly more brown-y/mauve version of Fanfare. Do you guys feel the same way...? haha. The amplified line is crazy opaque has a slight sheen to it. Not as glossy as the cremesheens.

I do not think these lipsticks have the best wear time, I have other lipsticks that last hourssss on me, and these ones last about 2 hours or so (assuming you are not drinking or eating). They have that classic vanilla scent which does not bother me and I don't smell it while I wear it.

I do love how they feel on the lips, not heavy and apply effortlessly. I feel that way with just about every line in the MAC lipstick range. Mattes...are a different story haha. But, they are a great lipstick. The product quality and price point makes it an easy product to start collecting :).

Do you have any MAC lipsticks on your wishlist?! Let me know in the comments, I'm always down to add more lippies to my wishlist (which is a never-ending list of makeup products I want to try and own :D).

Take care,
Bianca xo

What I Wore This Week #1 (2/10-2/14)

Happy friday/weekend! ~yasss!~

I'm excited to share with you my first "What I Wore This Week" post. Where I share with you what makeup I wore during the week :). Since this is my first, I welcome any and all constructive criticism on how to improve these posts. My goal with posting my weekly makeup stash is to vary my makeup products so I don't get stuck in a rut or just use one thing for weeks.

First group of products I'm going to share with you are LIPS: 

 I've been using two regularly over the past week, left: YSL Rouge Volupte in #9 Caress Pink (muted raspberry pink) and original Dior Lip Glow. They are the kind of lip products that require no mirror to apply and since I'm SUPER forgetful when it comes to reapplying my lip products so these two have been my go to (and not just for this past week). I love these two! :)

Next: EYES

I have my stand by's when it comes to eyeliners and liquid liners. I rarely steer away from what I use unless I run out of it and buy something else.

 Top to Bottom: Maybelline Full n Soft Waterproof mascara, Kat Von D Tattoo Liner, Kat Von D Autograph pencil in Puro Amor, Urban Decay 24/7 Slide On eyeliner in Crave, and Maybelline Define a Brow in Medium Brown.

 Eyeshadow: Tom Ford Orchid Haze *drools*. It's a stunning palette to work with. I think it can be a great every day palette for a variety of people :).

Finally: FACE

For foundation, I have been using and loving the sample of Tom Ford Traceless Foundation in #7 Tawny. It's the most perfect match I have found in my time of trying out foundation from drugstore to high end. But just my luck, my perfect match is the most expensive one I've ever tried haha :(. I'll definitely keep trying to snag samples though if I can :p.

Blush: Tom Ford Ravish. ALL TIME favorite blush that I own. I've been using it like 90% of the time since I purchased it. It's gorgeous!!

Concealer: NARS Radiant Creamy Concealer in Custard ~Review of this concealer on my blog!~

Setting Powder: Guerlain Meteorites (old formulation) in Teinte Dore #3. I'm in loooove with this setting powder. It really makes my skin look glowing but not sparkly or icky. It's subtle but noticeable. It livens up my complexion and without it...my foundations and concealers don't look the same by the end of the day. I have yet to try the new formulation so I can't give my thoughts on that...yet... ;).

What did you wear this week? Let me know in the comments :)

Hope you all are doing well. Talk to you all soon,
Bianca xo

Tom Ford Spring 2014 Lip Color in Paradiso

Hello hello everyone :) Hope you are all well!

This blog post will talk about my veryyy first Tom Ford lip product and OMG I can't even. It's gorgeous.

The brand and the packaging of ALL Tom Ford products scream luxury. If you have seen any of the Tom Ford products, you know that the normal packaging is a dark chocolate-y brown and gold. For the Spring 2014 collection, they brought back the 'original' packaging when Tom Ford first released his makeup line a few years ago. With that being said, this collection is LIMITED EDITION. I know some websites are sold out of certain colors: Paradiso, Sweet Spot, and Incorrigible have been the most popular of the eight lip color release.

Okay, onto the juicy deets about Paradiso. This is the one shade I picked up from the release. And believe me I want more...they are just too beautiful. *must resist* ~ kind of easy to resist since Sweet Spot is sold out in many retailers :( and the price haha ~

The color is described as a bring watermelon pink creme. Which in my opinion is a perfect shade for the spring :).

And can we just talk about that TF embossing on the lipstick? Yes? Ok. IT'S SO FANCY! I'm not going to lie, when I swatched it I used the underside of the lip stick so I wouldn't ruin the TF :P.

The packaging is far from cheap feeling and looking. There is some weight to it which, for me, is nice. It feels good in the hand and it's not too heavy either. To put it simply, it feels very luxe. And with the hefty price of $48, you would hope it would feel, look, and apply like a dream. *which is does :)*

I took two pictures of the swatch to show how it reflect the shine. It's not overly shiny, it is a creme but it's not satin nor sheer. It can be built up to full opacity. 

I have heard some people say that this whole line is really sheer and doesn't last well on the lips. I would have to disagree with that. I swatched the lipsticks at my local Tom Ford counter and my experience is that some were sheer, some were super bright (Paradiso and Fire Cracker), and some were more subtle. I think if you are looking into this line, you can probably find something that you'll like. It depends on your preference.

My one Tom Ford Lipstick on display *drools*

Review: this product is super creamy and buildable in opacity and lasts about 4-5 hours on me with no weird fading. I have zero complaints really. At the end of the day, you are buying Tom frickin' Ford and it's up to you if it's worth it. I justify my purchase as it is limited edition, the color is something I would wear, and YOLO haha (I apologize for using YOLO in my review hahaha).

Do you need it? Probably not. If it's within your means to splurge almost $50 on a Tom Ford lipstick, go for it. They are phenomenal. But it's not in your budget, don't worry about it :). It's not a "YOU NEED THIS IN YOUR LIFE" kind of product, it's just a nice present for yourself :).

According to Temptalia, Elegant Accent from MAC's Mineralize lipsticks is a dupe for this and it costs around $22 ish. So that is an option for you if you really like the color :).

I hope this was helpful. If I missed anything, please let me know in the comments below.

Did you pick up anything from the TF Spring collection? Or what is your favorite TF product? I'd love to know in the comments down below :).

Have an amazing day/night,
Bianca xo

L'Oreal Extraordinaire Colour Riche Liquid Lipsticks - Rose Symphony & Blushing Harmony

Hey! Hope you are all doing well. I'm here to bring you the new liquid lipsticks from L'Oreal that have recently hit the drugstore. It is the L'Oreal Colour Riche Extraordinaire liquid lipstick. 

I purchased these from Walgreens about a week ago (approximately haha) and they retail for $9.99 (plus tax). The price may vary, depends on where you purchase them. I have yet to see them at my Target or Walmart... but Walgreens was on it haha and I was able to get my hands on two. 

There are not that many blog posts talking about these liquid lipsticks so I was iffy on just randomly picking out some colors but I purchased ones that did not seem too crazy and that I knew I would wear.

In the first picture, you will see what the packaging looks like. In my opinion, it looks pretty fancy for drugstore makeup so bear in mind that the packaging will impact the pricing too :\. The only con about this is that you do not see the name of the product so if you do not remember and someone asks you what you are wearing...you won't be able to tell them haha. Which sucks but it's not the end of the world if you don't know the exact name. 

 You can see that the "swatch" is on the packaging itself plus on the sticker. I can say that it is pretty accurate.

In the second picture, below, you will find swatches of the two colors. I tried to capture different angles to show you the dimension and shine that this product has. They are opaque but not so much that you can't work with the product.

The applicator is a tear-drop shape applicator, which I personally really enjoy in lipglosses/liquid lipsticks. It holds enough product on the wand to deposit a good amount of product on your lips, so you are not constantly applying to build up the color :).

Top swatch is Rose Symphony and the bottom is Blushing Harmony (for all swatch pics)

I wore Blushing Harmony to work the other day and I can say that the wear time on these is not great. Though they don't claim to be long wearing or a stain, I half expected a staining effect (I don't know why haha). This lasted about 2 hours on my lips. All I did was drink coffee through a straw and that was it so it's not like I ate or whatever haha. I would assume that if you did eat that the lipstick would completely go away.

So do not expect these to stain or last forever. If you love the color enough and do not mind re-applying every 2 hours or so, then I would totally recommend these! -- I am not one to remembers to reapply so I tend to go for long wearing lip products or stains (that's just me personally though).

When you apply them to the lips, the product does feel thick but not sticky. I HATE sticky lipgloss so this was really nice for me. Easy to apply and not messy either. If you do not like the feeling on a thick gloss on...you might not like these. This is a personal preference kind of thing...

I would wholeheartedly recommend these if they were cheaper though (maybe on BOGO or coupons) because $10 for one drugstore lipstick... eh... I do not know how I feel about that :\. You may or may not be able to find something better in the drugstore with so many brands coming out with new and amazing products basically every month ha. Or save your money and splurge on a MAC lipstick (or whatever you want). It's up to you.

If I had to give these a rating... I would give them a B/B+. They are pretty and nicely pigmented but the short wear time and price point makes me not want to buy more :\

What do you think? Will you or have you purchased from this line? Let me know in the comments :)

Thanks again for stopping by,
Bianca xo