Tag Archives: swatches

Autumn / Winter 2016 – MAC Redlite Strobe

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MAC Strobe Cream is definitely one of those cult, “must-have,” go to products in the beauty world – it’s been used backstage at Runway shows religiously since it’s launch, and very likely will continue to be one of those fail-safe, backup glow-getters ad infinitum.

It took a while but MAC finally decided to expand on the product – there were posts about it months ago, but given that it is set to launch this November (for Autumn / Winter 2016/17, and indeed when this post is scheduled for), we’ve got more to say about it now.  

The one I was always most interested in was Redlite – maybe it’s the vamp in me, maybe it’s that the red lends itself to flushing cheeks.  Either way, I was psyched to see a review that focused on this shade in particular.  There will be others, not to worry if red is not your hue.  It total, the selection will be:

  • Silverlite
  • Peachlite
  • Redlite
  • Goldlite
  • Pinklite (a rename of the original)

These definitely are shade shifters, and that’s one of the reasons I love them.  They don’t appear to be glittery or garish, they just add a cool (or warm!) sheen to the skin, giving you a hyped-up highlight instead of the same old, same old.

Excited?

 

MAC Studio Fix Newness

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I’ve seen two or three posts about the new adds to the MAC Studio Fix lineup – for those of you who love MAC, or the cult Studio Fix-ins…check out Britishbeautyblogger’s post, complete with swatches.  ReallyRee also shares swatches and comments.

The three new products are:

  1. MAC Studio Fix Perfecting Powder
  2. MAC Studio Fix Perfecting Stick
  3. MAC Studio Fix Fluid

These are supposed to be launching this month so keep your eyes open!

The “Otherworldly” Glow Getter

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Highlighters have absolutely proliferated the market…I’ve gone on about it plenty, and so have most beauty blogs.  And fashion sites. And publications. It’s a trend that hasn’t gone away, and probably will always find a place no matter the changing tides (yes, even when matte is the end all be all!)

Ethereal is ALWAYS in, but galactic is a whole other thing… It is definitely less wearable, but somehow still as appealing to most eyes (and wallets!) simply because of its novelty and “otherworldliness.”  I mean, who doesn’t want some kind of gleam somewhere?  It’s chic to sport an angelic sheen!  In the case of Milk Makeup’s Holographic Stick, though, it IS more extraterrestrial.

I’ve seen a bunch of posts out there but BeautyByKelsey shared one of the best swatches of this stick, as well as Anastasia’s Moonchild palette, Kat Von D’s Eyeshadow, Pat McGrath’s 003 highlighter (which was a quickly snatched-up cult item when it came out some months ago.)  It was nice to see it here, as other posts didn’t quite get the “on-skin, actual” look across.  Not to mention, if you really want to go full-bore, you have a nice collection of space-age products and hues to choose from!

There’s a definite lilac sheen going on here – it does NOT (hallelujah!) appear to be glittery or shimmery at all. Fear not, for those of you for whom glitter is your thing – this will still command some attention when on your skin (at least from someone else’s rods and cones!)

Not for the faint of heart, but those who want to stand apart. And glow while they’re at it.

milkmakeup.com

milkmakeup.com

Supernova, outer-spaced fabulousness.  If there’s life out there, prepare to wow.

Summer 2016 – L’Oreal True Match Highlight

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I never use Snapchat – in fact, I’ve no idea, really, what the app even looks like.  But Budgetbeautyblog posted an image (this IS Instagram, no?!) of some fun new highlighters from L’Oreal.

I personally have AN ARSENAL of highlighters.  My wedding is in October, so naturally I am sifting through them all to see which ones I will actually end up using (wouldn’t it be tremendous to layer them all!? Ermagawd!) I am incredibly discriminating, however, when it comes to “glow-getters” – and I am ever-determined to find ones that DO. NOT. GLITTER.  

Back in my college days, wearing glitter on my eyes, dark and painted jeans, and combat boots was no big deal.  In ballroom, it was basically a prerequisite.  But – as I have droned on about over and over again – I no longer feel my skin has to sparkle.  

No.  No, thank you.  I just want to glow – healthily – in a gleaming, possibly pearlescent manner.  But any sign of glitter – however small – will send me running the other way.  When the sun comes out (or the moon!) I expect my radiance to appear as though I am, indeed, lit from within.

Lofty wishes, maybe… Demanding of my products, 1,000%.  But I have found highlighters that glow beautifully, minus that disco ball scenario.  I don’t know if these L’Oreal liquid creams will just be “sheen” or something too-young for my taste – they look quite lovely swatches here, though!  Clavicle, brown bone, cheeks…the shades would work anywhere.  Curious to see more about these in the next few weeks!

Backstage – Dior Colour Filters

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Dior has a ton of products masquerading in this package, one of which is my favorite balm in the world.  And generally, these snappy, back-knobbed sticks show up during the runway shows, sneaking their way into the backstage photos while models get prepped to show off the new collection (clothing and cosmetics alike!)

These two new “Fix It” products, available August 1st, come in four shades, all designed to mask imperfections and unwanted tones:

  • Apricot (great for dark circles)
  • Yellow (can tone down ruddiness, as well as help with circles)
  • Blue (good for sallowness or overly-orange that needs to be evened, as well as adding radiance)
  • Green (tones down redness)

The color portion of this 2-in-1 tool wraps around a “soft focus” core that supposedly helps to diffuse lines and creases (tons of blurring products out there, so no surprise.)  The great news is that for BritishBeautyBlogger, this actually didn’t settle into lines, so it delivered what it claims it will.  She also felt it was nicely pigmented (which you can see in her swatches – I was impressed with the color payoff also given the ratio of core to color.)  

These are meant to be used as a primer for the eyes, lips, and the face, so feel free to play around!

Summer 2016 – Lancome Glow Subtle Silky Highlighter

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The strobing, highlighting, glow-getting trend has been seriously string for some months now.  I feel like it doesn’t matter WHAT season it is, radiance is always a la mode.  These, though, do lend themselves beautifully to summer, given their rosy and golden sheen.

Musingsofamuse.com photo

Musingsofamuse.com photo

Lancome’s Glow Subtil Silky Creme Highlighters also happen to be pretty gorgeous to look at – annoying when you have too much stuff to begin with, and there’s even more you want to buy!  The perpetual predicament!

PS, I loved that they had swatches on light and dark skin (or swatches at ALL!)  It reminded me of what Colourpop does with showing how the shades appear on multiple skin tones.  Love that!

The highlighter is designed to give a “natural-looking, soft-focused glow” – always the goal, I think!  It can be layered without getting too chalky or glittery – two more bonus details.  The product contains conditioning ingredients, and “special blend of dispersed elastomer and pigments” which give the formula it’s bouncy texture.  Sounds very Asian inspired to moi!

Spring / Summer 2016 – Revlon Insta-Fix Update

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I posted about these duos already, but here’s an update with swatches from BudgetBeauty Blog if you are interested in seeing how they look on the skin, and hearing some comments about wear!

More photos in her post! 

Body Shop Instaglow CC

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There really isn’t any let up on the “glow”-bestowing products of late, what with the surge of strobing, highlighting and contouring.  

I’m not complaining, for sure – anything that boosts the “wakefulness” factor is a whole-heartedly embraced (rest assured!)

Maybe long work hours (or slow-poke coworkers!) are leaving your drained.  Maybe it’s a heavy, physically demanding training load during the week that’s left you exhausted.  Or perhaps it’s your newborn, or the obnoxiously loud neighbors next door… Whatever is robbing you of your precious shuteye might also be guilty of stealing the ever-coveted, fully-recharged radiance you get when you actually DO sleep…and stay stress-free.  

Since the latter two conditions are sometimes tough to come by, the plethora of products out there that help us achieve a rested look are definitely appreciated.

The newest on the scene are The Body Shop’s Instaglow CC Creams (hit stores on May 17th overseas – not sure about USA as yet.)  

The Body Shop Instagram

The Body Shop Instagram

Designed to even skin tone, temper shine, minimize pores, soothe (with Aloe Vera), moisturize (with Marula Oil, for a purported 24 hours) AND illuminate, these little guys pack quite a punch.  They also happen to boast an SPF of 20PA+++ (future signs of aging can take a hike, thanks.)  

The shades include:

  • Bright Glow – Light skin, white pigment with purple pearl
  • Peachy Glow – Light to medium skin (might be nice for circles?)
  • Warm Glow – Dark skin, bronzed brown with golden pearl

ReallyRee did a great review and shared some nice swatches, so definitely check it out – what I like is that there doesn’t *seem* to be perceptible shimmer…  Glow sans glitter is the way I like to go, personally!

These aren’t meant to be full coverage by any stretch…but alone, or paired with other color cosmetics, these definitely appear to give you a boost…and who doesn’t love THAT idea?!  Not too many Body Shops near me but I will absolutely drop in and check them out when I come across one!  

 

Fall 2016 / 2017 – MAC Trend Forecast

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Usually I see these post to MAC early on…but I appreciate that ReallyRee beat everyone else to the punch, sharing images and swatches of the up-and-coming Autumn Palettes.

I LOVE the colors in these, finding them to be incredibly wearable overall.  The less obvious, less (perhaps) everyday shades are still in hues that can be worn both with major impact…or in a more subtle way – so all around, they offer a wonderful selection to choose from to create a wintery flush, or something more dramatic.

It isn’t fair of me to share all of ReallyRee’s swatches, so please click her link above to see all of her fabulous photos! Really gorgeous, if you ask me.  

One palette is designed for the eye, the other for the lips…but I personally think these can be used for lips, eyes AND cheeks, pretty interchangeably…  They last well and apparently don’t crease – hallelujah.  So really whatever you feel like doing with them works! 🙂  You can mix, or use stand-alone – as always, MAC delivers something divine.

 

 

Hourglass Ambient Lighting Correcting Primer – Update

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I wrote about this branch-off product from Hourglass, the Ambient Correcting Primers, but we hadn’t seen too much detail at the time…  

Beautizine posted a lovely review for those who have been awaiting swatches.

They should be available soon from Sephora (middle of April) so keep your eyes peeled!