Yearly Archives: 2014

Dior | Contour Couture Colour Lip Liner #468 Spring, #558 Lili & #688 Diorette

September 15, 2014

Along with the recently launched Rouge Dior Baume (reviewed here), Dior has released 3 new Couture Colour Contour Lip Pencils (CAN $30.00 each) that aim to provide long-lasting colour, as well as help maintain and intensify any lipstick shade or gloss that’s layered on top. Each pencil comes with its own sharpener – a convenient addition, as I prefer to NOT use one sharpener for all my pencils; this way it keeps the shavings, such as that of a darker hue, from staining lighter colours (and vice versa). The other end of the pencil holds a built in brush – again, very handy in blending the liner into your lipstick/gloss shade, as well as helping you avoid needing to carry a separate lip brush.

I found the Couture Colour pencils to be a little hard initially, in particular #468 Spring, but after warming them up between my fingers for a few seconds and lightly wearing down the point on a paper towel, the colour applied easier. Do not expect these pencils to glide across the skin the way others with a more emollient formula do; the best way to use these on a larger area -such as when applying to the entire lip – is by employing a swiping motion, leaving the tip for more precision work (i.e.: cupid’s bow and outlining the lips). Neither drying nor moisturizing, their longevity is beyond impressive: in the swatches below, you can see how even after being wiped off with a makeup remover-soaked pad, the colour is still very visible and relatively intact.

The beauty of these Couture Colour Contour Lip Pencils, is how they can work in either a supporting role (such as, lining lips to keep lipstick/lip gloss/lip balm from feathering or bleeding into surrounding lines), or by taking centre stage and being applied to the entire lip, then lightly dabbed with a clear balm or gloss for a bit of moisture & sheen. When worn in tandem with their matching Rouge Dior Baume shades, some wonderful things happen: not only is the balm’s colour amped up, but the staying power is then increased by several hours as well. Definitely win-win.

Natalie Portman for Dior, wearing Rouge Dior Baume #558 Lili

Dior | Contour Couture Colour Lip Liner #468 Spring, #558 Lili & #688 Diorette

Dior | Contour Couture Colour Lip Liner #468 Spring, #558 Lili & #688 Diorette, ingredients (click to enlarge)

Dior | Contour Couture Colour Lip Liner #468 Spring, #558 Lili & #688 Diorette (sharpener included with each pencil)

Dior | Contour Couture Colour Lip Liner #468 Spring, #558 Lili & #688 Diorette

Dior | Contour Couture Colour Lip Liner #468 Spring, #558 Lili & #688 Diorette (attached lip brushes)

Dior | Contour Couture Colour Lip Liner #468 Spring, #558 Lili & #688 Diorette

#468 Spring Couture Colour Lip Liner (CAN $30.00) | A salmon pink hue with coral undertones, warm leaning. Slightly harder in initial application than the other two shades, but becomes easier to apply with continued use. TIP: Apply #468 Spring all over the lips and then layer a sheer nude lipstick shade on top for a unique multi-dimensional effect.

Dior | Contour Couture Colour Lip Liner #468 Spring

Dior | Contour Couture Colour Lip Liner #468 Spring with Rouge Dior Baume #468 Spring

#558 Lili Couture Colour Lip Liner (CAN $30.00) | A dusky red hue (slightly more intense than its matching Rouge Dior Baume shade), with a relatively easy application. TIP: try applying a clear balm to lips first then lightly blotting it off, then follow by adding a light layer of #558 Lili all over for a juicy, bitten-lips effect that will also be incredibly long-lasting.

Dior | Contour Couture Colour Lip Liner #558 Lili

Dior | Contour Couture Colour Lip Liner #558 Lili with Rouge Dior Baume #558 Lili

#688 Diorette Couture Colour Lip Liner (CAN $30.00) | A gorgeous fuchsia hue that had the smoothest application of the three. Tip: #688 Diorette works amazingly well solo: applied to the entire lip with a bit of clear balm on top, turning it into a no-fuss pop of colour. Spectacular when used in conjunction with its matching Rouge Dior Baume (see swatches below).

Dior | Contour Couture Colour Lip Liner #688 Diorette

Dior | Contour Couture Colour Lip Liner #688 Diorette with Rouge Dior Baume #688 Diorette

Dior | Contour Couture Colour Lip Liner with matching Rouge Dior Baume swatches

Dior | Contour Couture Colour Lip Liner swatches

Dior | Contour Couture Colour Lip Liner swatches after being wiped off

Dior | Contour Couture Colour Lip Liner #688 Diorette applied all over the lips

Dior | Contour Couture Colour Lip Liner #688 Diorette layered under Rouge Dior Baume #688 Diorette

Never the type to use lip pencils all that much, I have come around to their incredible usefulness over the past few years. Other than the ubiquitous lip lining factor, I love how these Dior Couture Colour Contour Lip Liner Pencils have provided me with new ways in using them – methods I never really thought of before for some bizarre reason. The most impressive part here, is definitely their staying power – the least impressive, the price. While on the steep side when compared to more mass-market brands (but definitely in line with other luxury brands), I doubt the quality will come close to what these offer and which to me, makes them well worth the investment.

Available now exclusively through The Bay (Canada), at all other Dior counters in October. Find more information via:

*Disclosure: Press samples provided by the company/PR for my unbiased consideration

NYFW Makeup Edition | NARS covers Marc Jacobs SS/15

September 12, 2014

For the NYFW Marc Jacobs Spring Summer/2015 runway show, François Nars – founder and Creative Director of NARS Cosmetics – led the beauty team backstage. The theme behind the look, in the artist’s own words:

“The look for the show features no makeup – we only applied moisturizer. With Marc we always take it to the extreme, we’ve done bold looks in the past, but this season we wanted to make a statement by not applying anything.

This goes back to one of the looks that I’ve always loved – bare skin, nothing on the face, lips or eye, just beautiful skin – I love makeup but I also love seeing women without makeup. To me, it’s a great way to show fashion. It works so well with the clothes and the hair. Who knows, maybe next season we will go back to a full face of makeup. I love having the flexibility to do this, we are not locked into applying makeup. I like the idea that what you see is what you get”

The obvious trend that has come out of several NYFW shows, is this ‘new nude/bare’ face, with NARS definitely leading the pack, as previous posts have clearly shown (see examples here & here). As I’m not a 20’s-something model with flawless skin, pulling off the no makeup look will just leave me looking unfinished, but I definitely appreciate the simplicity behind it all, leaving the focus to remain clearly on the clothes. There’s also something quite liberating about just slapping on some moisturizer/lip balm then heading out the door – a look I basically recreate every morning before driving my daughter to the train, but not one I’m about to embrace for an event any time soon. Unless that event happens to be at the beach.

FACE:

NARSskin Luminous Moisture Cream
Stick Concealer (if needed)

LIPS:

Rosebud Salve

All products, except where noted, available at www.narscosmetics.com

*Images courtesy of NARS/photo credits: Rob Latorre/model photos source

NYFW Makeup Edition | NARS covers Rag & Bone SS/15

September 12, 2014

The NYFW Rag & Bone Spring Summer/2015 show featured Gucci Westman as the lead nail artist for NARS, who created a look that is “effortless, aspirational and chic while still feeling luxurious and cool. The face is feminine and fresh with subtle monochromatic tones complimented by a bitten looking mouth”. While relatively simple looking, the emphasis here remains on a flawless yet glowy complexion, uniquely tailored to each individual model – to get the look:

FACE:

Luminous Moisture Cream
Radiant Cream Compact Foundation
Radiant Creamy Concealer
All Day Luminous Powder Foundation (New for Fall 2014; for now try Powder Foundation)

CHEEKS:

Copacabana Illuminator
Copacabana Multiple
Cappadoce Matte Multiple
Zen Blush
Mata Hari Blush
Maui Multiple

EYES:

Copacabana Illuminator
Copacabana Multiple
Triple X Lip Gloss
Mambo Eyeliner Pencil
Larger Than Life® Volumizing Mascara

BROWS:

Matte Eyeshadow (shades Blondie, Bali, Bengali and Coconut Grove depending on hair color)
Oural Brow Gel

LIPS:

Bianca Pure Sheer Lip Treatment
Rikugien Satin Lip Pencil
Bahama Velvet Matte Lip Pencil
Never Say Never Velvet Matte Lip Pencil
El Agua Velvet Lip Liner
Vent Salé Lip Gloss (New for Spring 2015; for now try 413 BLKR Illuminator)

All products, except where noted, available at www.narscosmetics.com

*Images courtesy of NARS/photo credits: Rob Latorre

Dior Rouge Baume | #128 Star, #468 Spring, #558 Lili & #688 Diorette

September 11, 2014

The latest from Dior Beauty, Rouge Dior Baume (CAN $37.00, available in 14 shades), is a new breed of makeup: a beautiful melding of colour with breakthrough ingredients for intensely nourished lips. The star component here is Cristal Oil, a natural origin lip care ingredient developed at the Dior Laboratories which “forms an extra-fine yet generous film on the lips, revitalizes, protects, and radiates colour” (my review on the matching new Dior Contour Lip Liner shades will be forthcoming).

In the brand’s signature blue lacquered casing with the initials on the cap, the silhouette is leaner here, making Rouge Dior Baume highly portable, as well as so luxe & elegant-looking. Inspired by M. Dior’s beloved garden, this ‘bouquet’ of 14 shades offers translucent colour with the incredibly emollient feel of a balm, but yet lips never feel undressed. I could detect no real scent, and the actual feel upon wearing is almost transformative, as my lips feel smoother and plumper after the fact.

My lips, while not overly dry, do tend to experience flaking with several lip products – even if I’ve properly moisturized beforehand. Applying a regular lip balm before lipstick is not always the best option for me either, as it can make said lipstick then slide around the lips and/or completely not cover some areas. I’ve even experienced quite severe peeling issues with some tinted lip balms, but something about the ingredients in the Rouge Dior Baume formula, just totally works on me. Definitely on the steeper end of the price scale – if you consider these as simply balms (which they’re not), but worth every single penny if you’ve ever suffered from dry, peeling, or flaking lip colour from a regular lipstick. And shiny too, did I mention that?

Dior Rouge Baume | #128 Star, #468 Spring, #558 Lili & #688 Diorette

Dior Rouge Baume | #128 Star, #468 Spring, #558 Lili & #688 Diorette (ingredients – click to enlarge)

Dior Rouge Baume | #128 Star, #468 Spring, #558 Lili & #688 Diorette

Dior Rouge Baume | #128 Star

Dior Rouge Baume #128 Star (CAN $37.00) | The sheerest shade of the four, #128 Star will suit both warm and cool complexions due to the combination of pearly/pink/golden tones it holds. Ultra smooth (a touch thinner in texture than the rest, but with the most glide overall), there is absolutely no gritty feel as a result of its shimmer. Not surprisingly, staying power was the shortest of the four, although lips continue to feel well nourished long after all shimmery traces are gone.

Dior Rouge Baume | #128 Star

Dior Rouge Baume | #468 Spring

Dior Rouge Baume #468 Spring (CAN $37.00) | Bearing a medium thick texture that nevertheless glides effortlessly across the lips, #468 Spring is a pink hue with peachy/coral undertones for added warmth. Application is several degrees lighter than what appears in the tube, but even after most of the initial colour has faded, a light pinky stain remains behind. Non-sticky feeling and no settling into lip lines either, staying power was about 4 hours on average – surprisingly long for both a balm, as well as a lighter shade.

Dior Rouge Baume | #468 Spring

Dior Rouge Baume | #558 Lili

Dior Rouge Baume #558 Lili (CAN $37.00) | I expected #558 Lili to be an intense red once applied, but I was actually surprised to find that it held the sheerest payoff of the 3 deeper coloured shades, bearing more of a watered-down red rose hue (similar in texture to #128 Star, in fact but without the obvious shimmer). Creamy and buttery soft application, there’s a gorgeous “bitten-lips” stain left behind (which will make lips appear plumper as a result) once the colour has faded. Staying power was an impressive 5-6 hours, all things considered.

Dior Rouge Baume | #558 Lili

Dior Rouge Baume | #688 Diorette

Dior Rouge Baume #688 Diorette (CAN $37.00) | #688 Diorette is simply AMAZING – and I’m not usually a fan of vivid lip shades, let alone fuchsia leaning ones (which happens to be a colour group that’s hard for me to pull off). Bearing a similar texture to #468 Spring, this shade is also the most pigmented of the four shown and probably with the most luxurious feel once applied. Non-sticky and with no noticeable migration into surrounding lip lines, staying power blew me away – lasting easily 8 hours (that’s with eating & drinking included). Surprisingly, the next morning I could still see a faint tint of it on my lips. And this is a balm? WOW!

Dior Rouge Baume | #688 Diorette

I am beyond in love with these new Rouge Dior Baumes and after playing with the four shown today, absolutely cannot wait to add more to my collection. To choose a favourite amongst them is impossible, as each offers something unique; #128 Star fulfills my love of neutrals, #468 Spring provides a light touch of youthful colour, #558 Lili is the quintessential ‘my-lips-but-better’ kind of shade, while #688 Diorette is meant be noticed. Beyond that, what is even more impressive is the formula as it leaves my lips feeling extra soft, 100% hydrated, and actually better for having used them. Total win-win.

In Canada, these are available now exclusively through The Bay, and will be at all other Dior counters as of October 1st. For more info:

*Disclosure: Press samples provided by the company/PR for my unbiased consideration

NYFW Makeup Edition | Hourglass covers Oscar de la Renta SS/15

September 11, 2014

This past Tuesday at NYFW’s Oscar de la Renta SS/15 runway show, Gucci Westman created a pretty, polished, and yet a still modern look on the models using Hourglass cosmetics. Inspired by some of the more graphic prints seen in the collection, the look was all about luminous skin, berry stained lips and dramatic winged liner on the eyes.

Get the look:

SKIN:

Prep skin with Hourglass Veil Mineral Primer and follow with Hourglass Illusion Hyaluronic Skin Tint for a luminous complexion. Conceal any dark circles or imperfections with Hourglass Hidden Corrective Concealer

CHEEKS:

Create a seamless, soft-focus glow with Hourglass Ambient Lighting Palette. Lightly contour with Radiant Light, a sun-kissed golden beige. Then apply Ambient Lighting Blush in Diffused Heat, a vibrant poppy shade, to the apples of the cheek. Finish up by highlighting with Incandescent Light, a pearlescent shade

EYES:

Sweep Hourglass Calligraphy Liquid Eye Liner along the upper lash line, flicking the liner up and out. Repeat the application to create a thicker line. Follow with Hourglass 1.5mm Mechanical Gel Eye Liner to enhance the black tone. Finish up with two or three coats of Hourglass Film Noir Mascara on the top lashes

BROWS:

Perfect arches with Hourglass Arch Brow Sculpting Pencil

LIPS:

Prep lips earlier with Hourglass No. 28 Lip Treatment Oil. Apply Hourglass Opaque Rouge Lipstick in Empress, a deep aubergine shade, and use your fingers to diffuse the color. Finish with a dab of Hourglass No. 28 Lip Treatment Oil for a subtle sheen