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 :)

YSL Baby Doll Kiss and Blush in #5 Rouge Effrontee - Review and Swatch

This product has intrigued me since I first heard about these and even more so when my friend (Mallory1712) made a video reviewing them and demo-ing them on her and well...I knew I had to try at least one. (Video Link - Click Here).

I purchased this at my local YSL counter inside of Nordstrom ($40 USD) and this was the color I thought would be great for the Spring and Summer seasons.

This and other shades can be purchased at Sephora (in stores or online) and Nordstrom (in stores or online).

I'm sure you are not surprised at how luxe the packaging looks. I know I'm not ;).

Rouge Effrontee is described as a bright coral-red and it is a gorgeous shade!

The applicator is quite unique. It is slanted a little bit but also has this space/hole where the product gathers. I hope you can see what I am talking about in the pictures.

I do have to say that the product has a soft and creamy consistency that makes blending a breeze. I do suggest blending it in relatively quickly or you might end up with a patchy application.

This is a VERY pigmented product so build up to the intensity you want. The first time I tried this, I went a little heavy handed and looked like a clown haha. But it was easily toned down with my foundation brush and gave my cheeks this beautiful rosy flush to the cheeks.

For me, it wore all day long and faded evenly. This is a plus because I am someone that does not touch up or do anything haha. So it is easy maintenance and beautiful on the skin. It is a soft matte product so do not expect a sheen or shimmer on the cheeks. 

Also, this product layers really easily and does not make other products apply patchy on your cheeks when this is already on. 

On the lips, it is really bright when you apply it. I would apply a sheer layer at first and layer to my desired intensity. This ensures more of a staining effect, even more so and this product lasts 6 hours on my lips through talking, drinking, munching on some food, and just being out and about. 

I hope you found this helpful and if you have any questions, feel free to ask in the comments!

Thanks for stopping by, 

Bianca :)

Tom Ford Cognac Sable - Swatches and Review

Oh Cognac Sable... why art thou so beautiful...?

This is one of my favorite quads that I own from Tom Ford. It is one of those that is so versatile. I know you are thinking "You say every time that the TF quads are so versatile" but it's so true!! :)

I absolutely adore the warm tones in this quad. There isn't a matte shade (which is a bummer) but the shades work well together. When you create a look with this quad, it doesn't look like there is too much shimmer or metallic-ness to the look.

The mixture of these shades together really help form, practically, the perfect quad for the summer and leading into fall. It has those warm browns, that bronze "adult" glitter, and a golden beige highlight.

With this quad, it is one of those that you can easily transition from a soft day time look to a sultry bronzey brown smokey eye. Which is what a lot of people look for, in my opinion.

I love how buildable these shadows are. I'm not going to lie, when I first swatched this quad... I thought I got a dud. There was not a whole lot of pigment when I swiped it on my finger and I felt this buyer's remorse instantly haha. But I reminded myself that it is important to see how the eyeshadows perform on the lids and with brushes.

And thankfully, it worked out amazingly once I created a look with it. I post all my makeup of the days on my Instagram, you should probably head on over there and follow if you'd like ;).

This is one of my favorite quads to work with and I get so many compliments when I wear this out. Even my friends and sales associates at my local Tom Ford counter love how I create looks with the quads.

I purchased this at Nordstrom for $78 and I absolutely love it. If you can, see if you can check it out in person. You will fall in love with it!

Thanks for stopping by as always,
Bianca

Tom Ford Orchid Haze - Swatch and Review

So I have here another Tom Ford Quad. I want to add to my master post featuring Tom Ford. I think this was the first or second Tom Ford quad I purchased; hence why it looks used haha. But it is special to me. This is how my obsession with this brand started.

I wanted to show you swatches of the quad and share my thoughts.

This quad features that classic mahogany and gold packaging. Inside, you will see four beautiful eyeshadows and will help create some amazing looks.

The eyeshadows consist of a shimmery champagne/beige, light golden taupe, cranberry/mauve, and a matte eggplant eyeshadow.

The way this quad was put together is really great. It combines shadows that will help create subtle day time looks and helps you transition from daytime glam to a sultry smokey eye.

This quad is for the person that love that versatility in a eyeshadow palette but that isn't all earthy neutral shades.

The purple, taupe, plum colors are suitable for so many people and different eye colors.

The texture of Tom Ford eyeshadows are unmatched. They are so smooth and really pigmented.

What is so nice about these shadows is that they work and blend so well together. They never look muddy, which I have had that problem with other eyeshadows from other brands before.

This quad was released in the Fall 2013 collection and from what I heard, it was limited edition but I see this displayed with the quads in the permanent range. So this could have been moved into the permanent range. Check online or at your local Tom Ford counter/retailer.

Hope you are all well and that you enjoyed this post.

Take care,
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 Sheer Eyeshadow in No. 21 - Midnight Brown

This is my first Burberry eyeshadow and I'm in love. They are $29 a pop but in my opinion sooo worth it. You get a whopping 2.5 grams of eyeshadow! AKA it will last you a looong time.

I think this is a shadow that works for all skintones.

Pale/Fair: It can be a one shadow smokey eye or used as a liner.
Medium: a soft, daytime smokey eye or a great darker neutral to pair with lighter shades.
Dark: it will give you are very natural but stunning one shadow look.

This shadow works basically anywhere within your eye look and that is awesome.

The box it comes with is that classic Burberry beige with the silver/pewter wording. The box is made with a more sturdy material compared to other brands. Feels very luxurious in hand.

Inside the box, you will see the eyeshadow packaging with a velvet pouch. The pouch has an embossed/engraving/something that shows off the iconic Burberry pattern.

The packaging on these shades is very luxe and weight-y. It definitely has a weight to it when you hold it. All in all, it feels and looks like a designer makeup item.

When you open it, it comes with a sponge tip applicator and a protective sheet for the mirror.

The Burberry formula on these are so soft and so pigmented. Far from what the name of the eyeshadow suggests. It works so well with other shadows and an amazing one eyeshadow look product.

From what I have seen from this range, all the shadows vary from mattes, satins, and shimmery satins. You will not find any glitter or frost shades in the line. So if you are a huge fan of neutrals and non-frosty eye shadows, this eyeshadow line form Burberry is one to check out.

This eyeshadow is so stunning on its own. It's a warm brown with a sheen and reflects tiny gold particles. This shadow would make hazel and blue eyes just light up and bring them out in a beautiful way. But in general, this is a great "intro to Burberry" eyeshadow too if you are looking to pick up one.

I do plan on purchasing more of these, this is a fantastic range from Burberry and worth checking out. I have swatched almost all of them and every one across the board is smooth, pigmented, and very wearable. You can create some amazing, every day looks using the shadows from this line.

Have you tried any Burberry shadows? I'd love to know your favorites from the line and from the brand in general. 

Hope you enjoy this and hope you are all well.

Talk to you all soon,

Bianca

Chanel Reflets d'Ete - New Moon Illusion D'Ombre and Happy Glossimer

Chanel, you did it yet again. You have captured the hearts with a beautiful collection that has something that caters to so many.

Honestly, the collections that Chanel has come up with in the past few years have been real winner and this one isn't an except. This year's summer collection is called Reflets d'Ete de Chanel. 

I purchased two things from the collection: Illusion D'Ombre in New Moon and the Glossimer in Happy.

Safe to say that the whole collection is worth getting your hands on haha but I had to resist. It was hard, I must say.

First off, the Illusion D'Ombre in New Moon. I think it has been very hyped up in the beauty community (Youtube and in Beauty Blogs). Not just in the color of the shadow but the glitteriness that is in the shadow.

Some folks do not like that it has a buttload of multi-dimensional glitter but my oh my...it's beautiful! It can see this as a pop of glitter in a brown or black smokey eye.

In the box, you get a little brush that will help you apply the Illusion D'Ombre (works if you are on the go and in need of a touch up). I prefer to apply these with my finger tip or a stiff, thin eyeshadow brush for maximum pigmentation.

Can we just take a moment and admired how gorgeous this is! I swear, this does not do it justice. You have to see it in person and you will see why so many are loving this.

 Here is a swatch, one heavy and one sheered out. It has this golden, burgundy, copper, taupe color to it. It has different facets and you can see all of that when the light hits it and moves.

Note that when the shadow is sheered out that it becomes like a golden glitter shadow. *still beautiful either way*.

NEXT, the Glossimer in Happy.

I bet you are thinking... psh you spent $30 something on a sheer ass lipgloss? Gurrlll you cray.

Yes, yes I am haha. I purchased this as a layering gloss. Because in the tube, it looks like a bright, neon-ish pink gloss and it applied like a sheer, bordeline clear gloss haha.

It looks so pretty in the tube too. I wouldn't mind getting a gloss this color if it was more pigmented too :P.

So the reason I got this gloss was for layering purposes. I went into my Chanel counter and one of the MUAs used a pink-y nude lip liner all over my lips and applied the Happy gloss on top and I was sold. INSTANTLY.

It might look like nothing on it's own but it's so dynamic when you layer it. And in my opinion, it's perfection for the upcoming summer months.

So, did you pick up anything from this collection? I think I might pick up the Sunny glossimer and possibly the Cheek cream blush :O.

If you have any questions, feel free to answer them down below!

Hope you are all well,
Bianca xo

Tom Ford Silvered Topaz - Swatch and Review

I have embarrassingly collected most of the Tom Ford quads and I still want them all haha. It's a bad thing to want to achieve but I adore his eyeshadows. And believe me, any new TF product that comes out with eyeshadow trios, quads, or palettes...you can bet I will do my best to get my hands on it.

But for now, let's talk about Silvered Topaz. Ain't she a beaute?

obvi haha

This palette is compromised of one signature TF glitter shade, two shimmer-y satin eyeshadows, and one matte.

That glitter shade goes very well on its own on layered on top of any of the 3 shadows. I would say it's neutral because it goes well with that silvered taupe shade on the top right and with that warm plum-y golden-ish taupe without any clashing or looking weird.

These shadows are very pigmented and so smooth like all of the TF quads I have tried and own. They are a dream to apply and blend out.

I can make so many different looks with this quad. And that is what I LOVE about the TF quad line. Every quad has endless possibilities from subtle washes or color for an easy look and can be built up to create some kick ass smokey eyes (which are my personal favorite kinds of looks).

 

This right here is one heck of a beautiful quad. Especially if you love taupe shades. 

I think if you wanted a little more variety in taupes, I think the Les Fumes palette from Guerlain would compliment this TF quad nicely. Not necessary but if you like a little more options than just these 4, I think that would be a good one to take a look at.

Okay, *focus self* haha back to TF. I recommend this quad like the others that I have posted on my blog. I know that the price tag is scary at $78 but the beauty about these quads aside from the AMAZING quality is that these quads are so versatile. You won't be stuck doing the same old look every day. What's not to love about Tom Ford...? ;)

If you are curious, I have done reviews and swatches of: Cognac Sable, Titanium Smoke, Cocoa Mirage, Sahara Haze, and Orchid Haze. ~Check out the rest of my blog for more~

Alright, I hope you enjoyed this review on the Silvered Topaz quad from the amazing Tom Ford. If you have any questions, feel free to let me know. 

Hope you are all well,

Bianca

Tom Ford Unabashed Eye and Cheek Palette for Summer 2014

Well isn't this a thing of beauty?

This is the new and highly coveted Tom Ford Eye and Cheek palette in Unabashed. This is the first palette Mr. Ford has come out with in terms to combining both eye and cheek products. And I am hoping for more palettes like these! 

As you can see, the Ivory and Gold packaging is still going on, resembling the original Private Blend lipstick packaging from back in the day. So fans of Tom Ford are loving it right now because it is so sleek and simple.

*ahhhh* It's so beautiful!

So it comes with three eyeshadows and two cheek products.

Eyeshadows - top to bottom: the classic TF glitter is the top shade and it looks like a champagne coloring with a touch of taupe. The only way I can describe the undertone of that glitter shade is taupe...I can't put my finger on it. It's really gorgeous! Next, it's a classic and true gray taupe matte shadow. MonsiieurAlex mentioned that it's the closest dupe to Chanel's Notorious contour/blush powder from a few years back. So if you are a pro at contour and missed out on Notorious, this would be a cool multi-purpose shade. And finally...the star of the palette...the bright cobalt blue. It is also a matte shadow. When you swatch and apply it, it turns into a bright teal color. So if you want true to pan opacity, you would have to pack it on.

 *drooling*

Here, I took pictures from three different angles and different lighting to get every angle position to show these shadows as best as possible.

The texture of these shadows are AMAZING and so soft like all TF shadows I've come across. I have yet to make a look with these...when I do I will post on my Instagram :)

If you have any questions, feel free to ask me! I'll do my best to answer it as best as possible.

I purchased mine at my local TF counter in Nordstrom. As of right now, Neimans and Saks are doing in store purchases online...They have put that on their website. *it might change*. Demand for this palette is insane. With all the hype around it thanks to social media...A LOT of people pre-ordered it! I know I did :}. Nordstrom doesn't even have this palette online but the rest of the collection is available.

It retails for a heartbreaking $95 haha. I justified it because it was a birthday present to myself :P. *reason enough riiight?!* ;)

Anyways, hope you enjoyed this! Any questions, feel free to ask.

Have a great day/night,
Bianca