Monthly Archives: May 2012
Guerlain by Emilio Pucci ‘Terra Azzurra’ Bronzing Powder and Blush
When I was shown the early promotional photos of Guerlain’s Pucci collaboration, it was instant love with the entire collection, but the item that stood out head and shoulders above the rest, in my opinion, was none other than the ‘Terra Azzurra Bronzing Powder and Blush’. Was it the multi-hued compact that brought to mind summer sunsets, the elegant wood outer casing, or the Pucci-print protective pouch? Something tells me that it was all that … and more that I did not expect, but was so happy to find out! It doesn’t hurt that the stunning Italian Riviera played muse for this collection!
The ruggedly beautiful coastline of the Italian Riviera with its vivid colouring – the inspiration behind Guerlain’s Terra Azzurra (source)
Terra Azzurra – magnetic closures & mirrored lid
the beautiful fiery sunset-hued box
open box displaying the ‘Winter Capri’ motif and matching pouch
the protective pouch done in the Pucci ‘Winter Capri’ motif
Terra Azzurra compact & pouch
Riva yachts – their clean lines and luxurious wood detailing that inspired the Terra Azzurra compact case (source)
the elegant ebony-coloured wood of the Terra Azzurra compact
Guerlain’s limited edition ‘Terra Azzurra’ Bronzing Powder and Blush‘ is a stunningly sophisticated visual display of function and art, masquerading as an item of beauty, no less! Having already mastered the art of exquisitely milled face powders and long known in the industry as the pioneers of the best cosmetic bronzers, this latest addition incorporates 3 products in one: bronzer, blush and highlighter.
Inspired by the gleaming wood of Riva yachts, the exterior of the compact is made of an ebony-coloured wood-composite material and the 2 halves are held together via three magnetic prongs – very easy to open and close. There is a round protective film on the inside, which I kept, as I found it useful in mainting the integrity of the powder’s surface.
This ‘Terra Azzurra’ powder has a distinct gardenia scent which appears to last quite a bit, but not unpleasantly so; however, if you do have a sensitivity to scented products, I would suggest you swatch this at the counter first before investing in its purchase.
The largest section, the bronzer, bears both the Guerlain signature and the designer’s name (Emilio Pucci) embossed on its surface and is of a wide enough size that you could easily pick up just this part to apply. The powder is so finely milled that it literally disappears onto the skin, yet leaves behind the most subtle and gorgeous glow. Several people feared that the colour leaned a touch too orange, but unless your complexion is alabaster-white, this bronzer in reality seems to impart the most realistic “tan” shade I’ve come across to date. I also found that it doesn’t oxidize on the skin like so many other face powders often do, and the colour only seemed to become even more “natural-looking” as it wore, eventually beginning to fade around the 8 hour mark.
The two blush stripes, one a medium rose hue and the other a coral/peach, could potentially be picked up individually but I don’t see that happening easily, as you would need a rather narrow brush to accomplish the task, making application too difficult. That being said, the two colours can easily be picked up together and when mixed, give an incredibly beautiful flush of colour to the skin. The last section, the highlighter, should not be worn alone as it is quite subtle and almost imperceptible that way; combined with the blush shades, it lends an added luminosity and when all 4 colours are swirled together, the resulting hue is simply unbelievable!
The following were all swatched quite heavily on bare, unprimed skin in order to better show the true colour of each shade. Bear in mind that on the face, the resulting look is much more refined.
in sunlight
indoors, natural light
with flash
Please ignore my rather “angry” look; the above photo was taken in full sunlight – hence the scowl!
Final thoughts: The day this collection launched at my nearest Guerlain counter, I was there, and while I wanted to get every single item, I went with a clear mission: the ‘Terra Azzurra’ compact. I may be late in getting on board with using bronzers (my fascination with them began sometime last year), but I now collect them with an almost religious passion, and I have to say, that this product ranks at the top with the best of them. There is just enough “glow” to the applied powder that it gives a certain radiance to the skin and I love the convenience of having both the blush and the bronzer in one compact, as I can play with the intensity of either product for a custom “tanned” look. Even though the ‘Terra Azzurra’ is the priciest item of this collection – and limited edition (it retails for CAD $76.00 although I managed to get it $10.00 off with a beauty discount at The Bay – even sweeter!), it is well worth every penny as it’s not only gorgeous to look at, but of an exceptional quality and versatility. Plus, it’s a lot cheaper than booking a flight to the Italian Riviera!
Guerlain by Emilio Pucci Terracotta Khol Kajal in #02 Blu Acqua
Take a luxury cosmetics brand like Guerlain, renown for making exceptional beauty products, add creative design touches courtesy of the house of Emilio Pucci, and what you get is a match made in makeup heaven! Taking inspiration from the Italian Riviera with its warm sunny days and raw rugged beauty, there are aquatic elements woven throughout this entire collection – from the beautiful ‘Winter Capri’ motif (taken from the Pucci archives) that is seen on the inner packaging, to the sultry deep violet hue of this Terracotta Khol Kajal in ‘Blu Acqua’.
Emilio Pucci spring/summer 2012
top of box
open box displaying the ‘Winter Capri’ print
Blu Acqua Khol Kajal with its beribboned outer cap
the beautiful gold lettering on the underside
Blu Acqua Khol Kajal
‘Blu Acqua’ is a beautiful deep indigo dense eye liner offered in traditional kajal style; the pencil itself is rather thick and approximately 3″ long extended from the tube, with a long tapered end and in a softly applying formula. Quite long-lasting, I was stunned that this went way beyond the 8 hour mark, especially when worn along the upper & lower lids; as I’ve been having “watery” eye days lately (thank you, allergies), I experienced some difficulty getting ‘Blu Acqua’ to apply more intensely on my waterline, although what did manage to show, lasted an impressive amount of time as well. The “eye-brighetening” colour is a true indigo with more violet than blue undertones, and while some subtle shimmer is seen in the photos, once applied, that translates into a simply gorgeous rich & sophisticated gleam. I absolutely love how creamy soft this pencil is, gliding effortlessly along the sensitive skin of my eyes without any tugging or pulling, with removal a simple process at the end of the day.
TIP: I was told that the traditional way to apply a kajal pencil, is to place the pointed tip against the outer edge of your waterline, squeeze your eye tightly against the pencil and run in across from one end of your eye to the other, effectively applying the product on both the waterline and tightline at the same time – it may sound a little scary, but done with care, this method actually works quite well!
in sunlight
indoors, natural lighting
with flash
Blu Acqua – worn on waterline & smudged along upper & lower lids
Blu Acqua Khol Kajal
Final thoughts: As this was my first traditionally shaped khol kajal, I wasn’t exactly sure what to expect, but I should never have doubted that Guerlain wouldn’t create something as exceptional as this. ‘Blu Acqua’ with its mysteriously smokey cobalt hue, is an excellent alternative to traditional black eyeliner, as it still provides the drama that a dark pencil can, but without any of the stark harshness. Coupled with the fact that this applies so incredibly easily and smoothly allowing you the option to either wear it solid for impact or gently smudged for a softer look, and how it stays put for hours on end, plus its smaller and more portable size, I believe this kajal to be one of the more versatile investments of this entire collection, to be worn all year round. I picked mine up at The Bay where it retails for CAD $40.00, but as ‘Blu Acqua’ is part of Guerlain’s summer limited edition collection, it won’t be around for much longer … the fall collections are already looming on the horizon!
CHANEL – Les Roses Ultimes de Chanel Collection 2012 (swatches, comparisons & review)
There’s an undeniable Frisson (shiver) of excitement I feel when I come across a new CHANEL collection, and the while the Attraction may be obvious, the Distraction of all that beauty makes me catch my breath – in the end, I cannot help but give in to the utter Tentation (temptation): CHANEL, I’m yours!
I know, cheesy but … I couldn’t resist trying to use the names of all four lacquers in one sentence! Right before CHANEL’s summer offering came out, the brand had released a smaller capsule collection consisting of 6 limited edition Glossimers (I caved and bought one, but that’s for another post) and 4 limited edition lacquers, all inspired by the sublime beauty of roses. I am a self-professed CHANEL addict collector, although I must confess that initially I wasn’t wowed by these shades – but it didn’t take long for me to have a change of heart, as the following all proves!
‘Garden Queens’ by Robert Joyner (source)
There’s a convoluted story behind how I ended up with this collection; I was sure that I had duplicates for at least 2 out of the 4, so I initially walked away with only two of them: ‘Attraction’ and ‘Distraction’. Bringing them home, however, not only showed me that they actually were unique in my collection, but also made me question my decision to leave the other 2 behind. Sooooo….
‘Frisson’ I pretty much wrote off as soon as I saw it, primarily because I was sure it was identical to last year’s ‘Morning Rose’, but once again, I was wrong. Therefore (and several days later), I picked it up as well. Now though, the foursome was only a trio (unfair? awkward? unbalanced?) – but still not reason enough to convince me to add the missing shade.
‘Tentation’ finally joined its brethren — for free! (which I picked up using my Pharmaprix Optimum Points – so sweet!) I should state that even had I not received it gratis, one quick counter swatch was enough to convince me how totally stunning it truly is and that I was insane to not already own it!
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white rose (source)
‘Attraction’ is a highly gleaming and somewhat metallic frosted white hue … and a bit of a contradiction. It should be stated that this shade certainly looks significantly better on; in pictures, what stands out more than anything are any visible brush strokes, an unfortunate by-product of this type of finish. The medium-thick formula spreads well, although you do need a steady hand with your application to keep it smooth looking. Surprisingly, 2 coats were enough for good opacity, although I did 3 for the swatches. With a pearly shimmer softening the wintry cast of this lacquer, this is a fresh & crisply modern way to wear white.
NOTE: This was the shade the models sported at the CHANEL spring 2012 runway show.
in sunlight
backlit
shade
indoors
with flash
Rummaging through my CHANEL lacquer collection for anything similar, the only shade that came remotely close was ‘Pearl Drop’ (previously reviewed here); below is a list of how it compared. Index & pinkie fingers – ‘Pearl Drop’ (3 coats as well), middle & ring fingers – ‘Attraction’. buy zestril online buynoprescriptionrxxonline.net/zestril.html no prescription
- more sheer with a thinner formula
- golden shimmer (adds a warm cast)
- smoother finish and less prone to visible brush strokes
- looks dingy beside the icier white of ‘Attraction’
in sunlight
backlit
shade
indoors
with flash
pale pink rose (source)
‘Frisson’ is a ballet tutu pink hue, made even more interesting by the addition of finely ground gold and slightly iridescent pink glitter. The excellently flowing formula made application a breeze and while I absolutely loved the translucent look of 2 coats, I opted for 3 coats here to achieve a deeper opacity. Another plus: how self-levelling and wonderfully glossy the finish is. Personally, this shade reminds of one thing: powerful femininity. Love that!
in sunlight
backlit
shade
indoors
with flash
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Until I went looking, I hadn’t realized exactly how many pale pinks I am fortunate enough to own in my rather extensive CHANEL lacquer collection, and yet ‘Frisson’ still manages to stand out among them. Here’s how they compared:
- index finger: ‘Flamingo’ – base hue almost identical to ‘Frisson’, no glitter but more of a pearly shimmer, a denser formula making it more opaque and overall a degree warmer by a slight peachy tint.
- middle finger: ‘Frisson’
- ring finger: ‘Morning Rose’ – similar sheerness to ‘Frisson’, several degrees deeper in tone making it the darkest here, with a higher concentration of gold glitter
- pinkie finger: ‘Bikini Rose’ – medium formula, not quite as sheer as ‘Frisson’, a few degrees lighter in tone, no glitter but with a subtle and ultra-fine hot pink/fuchsia duochrome flash (quite gorgeous, actually!)
in sunlight
backlit
shade
indoors
with flash
coral rose (source)
‘Distraction’ is perfection. Really. A simmering salmon pink/warm coral hue, the formula was nothing short of amazing, flowing easily and with an excellent viscosity. The first coat lays down a touch on the sheer side, which becomes opaque by the second, although I did 3 coats for the swatches here. Bearing an almost jelly-ish look to it, the finish is not only completely self-levelling, but ultra-glossy as well – but the best part is the internal fuchsia fire of this beauty, which adds such a stunning luscious depth. LOVE!
in sunlight
backlit
shade
indoors
with flash
The only shade that bears even the slightest resemblance to ‘Distraction’ in my CHANEL collection, is ‘Orange Fizz’ (on index and pinkie fingers) – here’s how it compared:
- slightly more opaque
- definitive peach/orange undertones
- no inner flash or shimmer
in sunlight
backlit
shade
indoors
with flash
fuchsia rose (source)
‘Tentation’ is the other shade of this collection that has totally stolen my heart. This is a most luxurious and deeply intense fuchsia hue, filled with a vivid magenta shimmer that gives off an almost luminous blue-ish flash in certain lights. An exceptional formula (the best of the four, actually), 2 coats are more than enough for perfect coverage, although I applied 3 here for consistency with the rest. Self-levelling and with an ultra glassy finish, do not skip base coat as this shade has the potential to slightly stain.
in sunlight
backlit
shade
indoors
with flash
Before picking up ‘Tentation’, I was sure that it was basically a summer version of ‘Rouge Carat’ (previously reviewed here), but as you’ll see in the swatches, I was way off. Here’s how it compared: (3 coats shown on index and pinkie fingers)
- same amazing formula, viscosity and opacity/coverage, self-levelling properties and glossy finish
- more red-toned
- ruby inner shimmer, giving a more “fiery” look
- looks red besides ‘Tentation’
in sunlight
backlit
shade
indoors
with flash
Final thoughts: With the exception of ‘Attraction’ and its rather fussier nature, this is another stellar collection of varnishes from the house of CHANEL. I love how a theme as obviously romantic as roses, is interpreted in such a modern and fresh way, with a small but interesting assortment of colours. As I stated earlier, I can understand why Peter Philips (CHANEL’s Creative Director) chose ‘Attraction’ for the runway show, as it definitely looks amazing when seen “live”. I believe that each shade shown offers something unique, although the show-stoppers here have got to be ‘Distraction’ and ‘Tentation’, not only for their vivid hues, but for bearing such superior formulas. Still available at CHANEL counters now, I encourage you to take the time and stop to smell, er…swatch these “roses”!
Essie – The Summer 2012 Collection (swatches & review)
Several years ago, my family and I had been invited on a friend’s private yacht (sounds so pretentious, doesn’t it?!) where we cruised the stunning tropical Abacos Islands of the Bahamas for about 8 days – and where I picked up the hand-dyed sarong pictured in the background of the above photo; uncanny how Essie’s new Summer 2012 Collection so perfectly mimics the colourful wrap, isn’t it?! I have beach on my mind … sigh …
Essie’s new Summer 2012 Collection consists of a 6-piece set of jewel-rich colours – 4 crèmes and 2 with ultra-fine shimmer. The formula with each shade flowed quite well, and while you really don’t need more than 2 coats for good coverage, please note that I applied 3 coats simply for swatching purposes. Even though these are all quite vibrant hues, there still seems to be an understatedly elegant quality to them, toning down some of the lively colour and making them so very wearable. I was also sure that I had duplicates for every one of these shades and when I went rifling through my collection, to my surprise, I literally came up short! Yes, there are a few that may have come close, but exact duplicates? Nope – not a one, I’m happy to say! All swatches are with base and top coats.
‘Cascade Cool’ is a lavender-leaning rose hue, with a slightly thin but easy flowing formula, and with a rather jelly-like quality – even though it’s most definitely a crème. Perfectly self levelling and leaving a nice glossy finish behind, I was surprised at how non-chalky it was, and loved how the colour seems to morph from warm to cool, depending on the lighting … pretty fascinating, actually!
in sunlight
backlit
indoors
indoors/alternate lighting
with flash
‘Fear or Desire’ (Umm – I don’t get this name …) is a vivid, yet still paradoxically muted Sunkist-orange shade, with definitive yellowish undertones that add such an interesting warmth to it. An excellently flowing formula, this rich crème hue is so self-levelling that it practically applies itself and leaves behind a superior glassy finish. This shade just screams “summer” to me, that’s for sure!
in sunlight
backlit
indoors
indoors/alternate lighting
with flash
‘Off the Shoulder’ is a deep carnation pink shade in a beautiful crème finish, and what I found so interesting here is that is seems to hold a perfect balance between being both warm and cool toned, making it easily wearable for all skintones. With a slight dusky quality, the formula was quite good here as well, self-levelling and with a high shine at the finish.
in sunlight
backlit
indoors
indoors/alternate lighting
with flash
‘Mojito Madness’ (now this name, I get!) is certainly the eye-catcher of the bunch, and with just cause; this vibrant yet still somewhat dusty lime-green hue has a simply fabulous formula, flowing like silk across the nails and leaving behind a mirror-like glossy finish. Its mix of both yellow and blue undertones make it very unique amongst my other greens and perfectly suited for basically every skin tone. BONUS: absolutely no staining of the nails upon removal. LOVE!
in sunlight
backlit
indoors
indoors/alternate lighting
with flash
‘Bikini so Teeny’ (my favourite kind!) is a powdery baby-blue shade filled with finely ground silver and electric blue glitter, that give it a slight shimmery quality. The sheerest formula of the 6, you need to apply this carefully as it can be prone to some visible brush strokes and/or streaking, but the payoff is worth it. This hue was the only one that really benefitted from 3 thin coats, as that gave the best and smoothest coverage, although I wish that the shimmer you see in the bottle, translated more obviously on the nails. The purple/cornflower blue undertones lend a beautiful tone to the overall colour, making it quite unique in my collection as well. As this dries significantly less glossy, don’t skip the top coat – unless you prefer that look.
in sunlight
backlit
indoors
indoors/alternate lighting
with flash
‘All Tied Up’ (not sure, but I’m guessing this refers to strappy sandals?) is the most opaque out of the 6 and with the thickest formula, which nonetheless flowed quite well and very self-levelling. A muted damask rose hue with some brownish undertones, it’s filled with finely crushed gold and copper glitter that are not only visible upon application, but add such a unique cast to this shade. Much like ‘Bikini so Teeny’, this also finishes semi-glossy and definitely needs top coat to really bring out all its nuances. While not as “beachy” as the rest of this collection, something about this shade reminds me of summer sunsets!
in sunlight
backlit
indoors
indoors/alternate lighting
with flash
Final thoughts: Essie, as far as themed collections go, you definitely got it right with these 6 shades! The formula on all was easy to work with, and though the colours may not be the most exciting or outrageous available, they all have that quality to them that makes them perfectly wearable no matter the occasion. I’m disappointed that ‘Bikini so Teeny’s’ inner shimmer is hardly visible when worn, but I’m guessing that it adds a rounded depth to what could otherwise be a rather flat pastel hue. ‘Mojito Madness’ has got to be one of my favourite green crèmes and absolutely gorgeous, while ‘Fear or Desire’ is a fabulous pedi shade to show off lightly tanned feet. Available now wherever Essie products are sold, go ahead and get your summer groove on with these beauties!
Kindly provided by Essie for my unbiased consideration
Butter London new Lippy Collection ! (swatches & review)
When I first learned that Butter London would be entering the field of cosmetics, I had some reservations; having established themselves as makers of exceptional nail products, would branching out into other beauty areas compromise their brand? I needn’t have worried – with their 5 new ‘Lippy’ shades, they’ve certainly proven that this brand is not just a one-trick pony!
left to right: Primrose Hill, Teddy Girl, Snog, Yummy Mummy, and Trout Pout
ingredients clearly labelled on back sticker
Butter London’s new Lippy shades take their inspiration from 5 of the brand’s best-selling nail varnish shades, and I was pleasantly surprised by how true to colour they actually ran. The 3 1/2″ rectangular bottle shape fits comfortably in the palm of the hand, while the spongy doe-foot applicator makes it easy to cover large areas of the lip quickly, depositing just the right amount of the pigment-rich colour. The formula – a whopping 0.24 fl. oz/7.1 ml of product (all are cream, glitter/shimmer-free shades) is a touch sticky, but not excessively so, and the lasting power of every shade was quite impressive, going way past the 3 hour mark – even longer with the darker hues. Even when the colour eventually faded, my lips still felt quite nourished. On the downside, the rather strong fruity/watermelon-like scent was a total turn-off and there seemed to be hints of a “soapy” taste, especially with the lighter shades.
The pros:
- excellent pigmentation
- long-lasting
- easy to apply
- super-glossy
The cons:
- the paler shades can settle into lip lines
- the scent can be a touch cloying, although it does fade quickly enough
- the darker shades need lip liner to keep them from feathering
EDIT: I have learned that the scent has already been re-formulated and will most likely lean towards a warmer vanilla tone.
left to right: Teddy Girl, Trout Pout, Yummy Mummy, Primrose Hill, and Snog (in sunlight)
left to right: Teddy Girl, Trout Pout, Yummy Mummy, Primrose Hill, and Snog (with flash)
‘Trout Pout’ is a warm-toned fairly translucent creamy peach hue. While the colour can be built up slightly, in order to make it more opaque you would definitely need to layer this over a similarly coloured lipstick, or a neutral flesh-toned lip liner. There is a tendency for some initial settling into lip lines, and while I love the colour, I found that it formed a slight sticky ridge where the lips meet. Interestingly enough, as the colour wore on, the ridge disappeared and it became more even toned, albeit much faded.
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Trout Pout Lippy with matching Trout Pout Lacquer (previously reviewed here)
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indoors
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‘Yummy Mummy’ is a simply stunning neutral hue; with an obvious beige cast and muddied up peachy undertones for warmth, this colour is not only universally flattering and wearable, but one of the longest lasting nude lip glosses I’ve ever worn. While it bears the same stickiness as the rest, I found even the scent to be lighter, and was pleased that it did not form that same filmy ridge along the lips.
Yummy Mummy Lippy with matching Yummy Mummy lacquer
in sunlight
indoors
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‘Teddy Girl’ is a cool-toned pale pink hue with a whitish cast to it and definite blue undertones. On me, this simply did not work, as it not only clashed with my skin tone, but I found this one to be the most problematic as well, in terms of wear. The settling into lip lines was the most obvious with this light colour, the filmy ridge was more pronounced, and the scent seemed to be quite strong here. On the plus side, I liked how my lips looked AFTER it had faded; for some reason, they looked almost fuller and quite dewy-looking!
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indoors
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‘Primrose Hill’ is a vibrantly rich and über-saturated hot pink shade with slight violet undertones, as well as an excellent opacity PLUS a ridiculously high shine factor! I could not believe that a lip gloss could give such coverage and with just one swipe of the wand. Naturally, this shade requires a bit more patience to apply due to its dense pigmentation and while it won’t migrate into any fine lines around the lips like ‘Snog’ can, it definitely benefits from a lip liner to keep the colour locked in place. buy acticin online buywithoutprescriptionrxonline.com/acticin.html no prescription
in sunlight
indoors
indoors/alternate lighting
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‘Snog’ is a warm-leaning bright cherry red hue, that packs a powerful dose of colour. A simply gorgeous colour, this is a red shade that anyone can wear and while a lip liner is an absolute must here to prevent feathering, I loved not only how totally juicy my lips looked while wearing this beauty, but how long it wore: 5 hours and counting – unbelievable! Obviously not as versatile as the lighter hues, both in terms of colour and time required to apply, it is nonetheless THE perfect hue for summer … and being noticed!
in sunlight
indoors
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Final thoughts: I’m a little torn by this collection; on the one hand, I’m all for innovation in the makeup marketplace and the introduction of new products, but I’m also of the opinion that one should stick to doing what one does best. That being said, for their first foray in the cosmetics arena, I think that Butter London has nailed it with at least 3 out of the 5 Lippys offered here. The more saturated hues, ‘Primrose Hill’ and ‘Snog’ are utterly amazing, and while ‘Yummy Mummy’ is hands down my favourite here, ‘Trout Pout’ and ‘Teddy Girl’ just didn’t work out as much as I hoped they would I will try layering them over lipstick and/lip liner to see if that makes a difference, but in my opinion, that sort of defeats the purpose of being able to swipe on some gloss and go. One thing’s for sure, I appreciate that Butter London has shown how much they not only value their clients, but actually listen to them; they’ve already put in place changes for the presently overpowering scent of their Lippys. A company with heart – that’s what I like seeing!
*Disclaimer: Product samples provided by the company/PR for my unbiased consideration
