Guerlain | Terracotta Joli Teint Natural Healthy Glow Powder Duo

March 17, 2015

Press sample provided for my unbiased consideration

Recently launched at counters nationwide, Guerlain has added Joli Teint Natural Healthy Glow Powder Duo (CAN $60.00/available in 4 shades) to their cult-fave Terracotta range of products. Created to provide you with ‘a healthy glow, as thought you have just returned from a weekend in the sun‘, this superfine face powder teams up with a sliver of blusher along one side so that when the two are swirled together, it imparts an instant shot of radiance … something that’s always welcome, in my book.

Guerlain | Terracotta Joli Teint Natural Healthy Glow Powder Duo

Guerlain | Terracotta Joli Teint Natural Healthy Glow Powder Duo (ingredients)

Guerlain | Terracotta Joli Teint Natural Healthy Glow Powder Duo

Terracotta Joli Teint Natural Healthy Glow Powder Duo 00 Light – Blondes | An ultra finely-milled and tinted pressed face powder in combination with a touch of blush, that is meant to be swirled together to provide the skin with a flush of colour — or that coveted ‘bonne mine’ effect. The pearlized and champagne coloured clamshell-shaped compact has a super thin profile, making it perfect for travel and to slip easily into one’s makeup bag, while the full-size mirror on the inner lid is great for on-the-go touch ups. This powder is strongly scented with Guerlain’s signature violet fragrance, which does lessen and dissipate with the wearing – but still worth noting for those with sensitivities.

The Joli Teint Natural Healthy Glow Powder Duo should be thought of as more of a finishing product, although that doesn’t necessarily exclude it from being worn in several other ways as well – it all depends on your preferences and any complexion issues you wish to address. The shade I was kindly provided to try, 00 Light – Blondes, is the lightest of the 4 hues available and is quite close to my present skin tone, but will definitely be much too pale once my skin is lightly tanned. Nevertheless, I have found several ways to wear this product – from a light dusting on my bare & moisturized face (great for a quick complexion perk, as well as to create the illusion of a more even skin tone), over a BB or CC cream for a touch more coverage + hint of sun-kissed colour, or over foundation and buffed into the skin for a totally flawless finish.

The accompanying sliver of blush compliments the face powder colour and will not overpower the overall tone, but serves to add depth and dimension instead. Still, you can easily avoid the blush section, as the tanned portion is large enough to be applied on its own with a variety of brushes (although the opposite isn’t true & you’d need a rather thin brush to apply only the blush part – which basically defeats the entire purpose of this product anyway). Even though the Joli Teint Natural Healthy Glow Powder Duo isn’t touted as being a mattifying product, an extra bonus is how well it managed to keep my skin’s natural oils to a minimum. With regards to longevity, I am able to get easily 8-9 hours of wear, a little less when applied on bare skin. The best part for me, however, is that this powder never seems cloying along my skin and the silky texture is so incredibly lightweight that I don’t even feel it being applied, but the finished result always amazes me – you know, where you can’t put your finger on it, but your skin just looks so good.

Guerlain | Terracotta Joli Teint Natural Healthy Glow Powder Duo

Guerlain | Terracotta Joli Teint Natural Healthy Glow Powder Duo swatches

I am a huge fan of Guerlain’s face powders, in particular the Terracotta range of products, and I maintain that this brand has basically perfected the art of the finely-milled powder. And while I’m not fond of floral fragrances, I actually look forward to this unique scent which I’ve come to associate with the Guerlain name. The absolute genius of the Joli Teint Natural Healthy Glow Powder Duo, is that depending on the shade selected, you basically have 1 product that can work as either: a face/finishing powder, bronzer, or blush even – and all in a texture that is the very definition of lightweight. Then there’s that chic little compact … yes, I’m a total sucker for details like that #sorrynotsorry

Available now at Guerlain counters across Canada. Find more information via guerlain.com

Estée Lauder | Bronze Goddess Illuminating Powder Gelée

March 16, 2015

One of the hotly anticipated Summer collections every beautista eagerly looks forward to, is most definitely from Estée Lauder and this year’s Bronze Goddess Shimmering Nudes Collection (available as of April at select counters nationwide), will no doubt set many hearts aflutter (and the grabby hands a-grabbing). I was recently invited to a media preview event where I was able to peruse the collection in person and even got the chance to play with the various pieces (spoiler alert: you will want them ALL), and I immediately fell hard for the undisputed star of the group, the Bronze Goddess Illuminating Powder Gelée (CAN $44.00/Limited Edition), a mermaid-worthy compact, if ever there was one.

*The bronzer palette shown in the photo further down the post, is said to be a Sephora exclusive

Estée Lauder | Bronze Goddess Shimmering Nudes Collection Summer 2015

Estée Lauder | Bronze Goddess Illuminating Powder Gelée

Bronze Goddess Illuminating Powder Gelée, Limited Edition | Unlike other gel bronzer powders released from Estée Lauder from previous collections, the catchword for the Bronze Goddess Illuminating Powder Gelée is ‘subtle’, with none of the almost metallic reflection of earlier incarnations (such as that of Shimmering Sands and Topaz Chameleon, both of which I do own, but so rarely wear due to their high voltage shine). Coming in a clamshell compact that bears a gorgeous tortoiseshell pattern – while the actual product displays a radiating wave-rippled surface, the Bronze Goddess Illuminating Powder Gelée is rose-gold coloured and ultra-finely milled, all in a gel based formula that applies whisper soft along the skin, leaving a sun kissed glow behind and providing a gentle radiance with just a hint of colour. Interestingly, any shimmer found here is ground so tiny, that no one speck stands out; rather, this is the best example of a glow-providing face powder that I’ve come across to date.

With both cool and warm tints in the base, this lightweight bronzer will suit many skin tones along the spectrum; those with fair to light complexions will find that the Bronze Goddess Illuminating Powder Gelée will work great in the bronzer capacity, as this soft peachy shade cannot be overdone, while medium to darker skin tones might find this works more effectively as a neutral highlighter instead. Definitely not meant to be glaringly obvious (think: the glow your skin gets from a day spent at the beach — under full sun protection, of course), you can also layer this with your usual bronzer for a multidimensional effect which also provides a stunning boost of warm radiance. Staying power is about average for this type of product (between 7-9 hours), although that can be extended if applied over foundation or combined with a regular bronzer.

Estée Lauder | Bronze Goddess Illuminating Powder Gelée

Estée Lauder | Bronze Goddess Illuminating Powder Gelée, applied heavily & blended out

I have a total weakness for bronzers and highlighters, and even though the Bronze Goddess Illuminating Powder Gelée is not the product I’ll grab when I want that deeper faux-glow, it is nonetheless the powder I’ve been reaching for lately for that finishing touch to my daily makeup — whether as a light wash of overall colour, or in strategic areas of the face for emphasis (upper cheekbones, bridge of the nose, cupid’s bow, temples – even decolleté). Personally, I feel that what makes this product truly stand out, is not only how beautiful it applies as well as how natural it looks & feels upon the skin, but the unique rose-gold colour … totally on trend and absolutely perfect. I suspect that from the entire Bronze Goddess Shimmering Nudes Collection, this will be the item that sells out first when it hits counters. You’ve been fairly warned.

Available at select Sephora, Hudson’s Bay and Sears Estée Lauder counters across Canada, starting early April. Find more information on the brand via esteelauder.ca

Press sample provided for my unbiased consideration

Lancôme | City Miracle CC Cream SPF 50

March 12, 2015

Press sample provided for my unbiased consideration

The latest addition to Lancôme’s Miracle range, is City Miracle CC Cream SPF 50 (CAN $46.00, available in 3 shades) offering lightweight makeup coverage, protection from external agressors, as well as skin-clarifying properties with continued use. Tested in several cities with high pollution levels, City Miracle might just be what all …but not limited to … Urban Warriors have been looking for. You’re welcome.

Lancôme | City Miracle CC Cream SPF 50

An all-in-one product to help provide a radiant complexion, City Miracle has the high-reaching goal of combining the ‘instant perfection of a makeup effect with lasting skincare benefits‘ that is said to:

even out like a foundation
perfect like a beautifier (I’m guessing that means primer)
hydrate like a moisturizer
protect against UV like a sunscreen
fight shine like a powder

Available in 3 shades, the texture has a hybrid cream/lotion feel to it; more body than a usual BB or CC product, but not as full-coverage as foundation. The fruity/floral fragrance is quite fresh and pleasant, if not a little on the strong side – something to note for those with sensitivities. City Miracle can be applied and spread using your fingers or your favourite foundation brush, if preferred, and bears surprisingly good opacity for a CC cream. Some of the key ingredients include:

Glycerine – acts on skin’s elasticity, leaving it soft & hydrated
Detoxyl – a potent anti-pollution active ingredient which prevents metallic pollutants for adhering to the skin while helping to detoxify cells
SPF 50 – usually high UVB & UVA protection for a CC cream (to prevent spot formation and photo-ageing)
Adenosine + Vitamin CG – a potent anti fatigue combo that work synergistically to help reduce wrinkle depth & the appearance of age spots
Kombucha & Musk Rose Oil – an anti-dullness duo to help improve skin quality while refreshing & illuminating the complexion

What I really like about this product, is that it provides excellent coverage without any of that caked-on look or feel that you sometimes get with foundation – and it can literally be applied on the go with no special tools other than one’s fingers. Longevity is good as well – especially when you consider that City Miracle is a lighter-weight cream, easily providing 8 hours of wear without oxidation or product buildup in key areas (such as around the nose or any facial lines). The scent is on the strong side and doesn’t dissipate immediately upon application like other fragranced makeup products, but does minimize over time. With regards to skin improvement, I can’t vouch for that as I tend to rotate my makeup products with alarming speed (#beautybloggerwoes), but I like the way my skin feels with City Miracle applied – illuminated/radiant but not dewy/shiny – and I find it does a pretty good job of keeping my skin (which is combination/oily in the T-zone area) from become overly greasy and needing to be mattified by using other products.

What surprises me the most, is that A) City Miracle is only offered in 3 shades and B) the lightest colour available (and which I was sent to try) will still be much too dark for pale/fair complexions. On my light/medium skin tone, 01 Beige Dragée (worn here – the other shades are 02 Peau de Peche and 03 Beige Aurore) appears rather orange-leaning when first applied, but seems to almost reverse-develop with the wearing; as the product warms up and thus merges with my skin’s natural oils, it somehow morphs into an almost custom shade – a very unique effect. The tube has a slim profile and is of a small enough size to make it conveniently portable, although that smaller size can work against it as well since it means it’ll finish up that much faster BUT this drawback can also be turned into a positive, if it means you will then have to purchase a fresh tube to use, as opposed to reaching for some other product that may have been lurking in your vanity for ages (and probably well past its prime, at that).

With regards to the SPF included, it’s unusually high for a cosmetic product but not enough that it feels like it weighs the skin down either, neither does it add any weird white cast to the skin as a result – a huge plus.

Lancôme | City Miracle CC Cream SPF 50

Lancôme | City Miracle CC Cream SPF 50 (ingredients list)

Lancôme | City Miracle CC Cream SPF 50, applied

Lancôme | City Miracle CC Cream SPF 50, lightly blended

Lancôme | City Miracle CC Cream SPF 50, sheered out

With the warmer weather that’s looming just around the corner, our makeup routine will undergo its usual seasonal shift: colours (eyes, lips, cheeks) will start to go a few degrees brighter and you’ll want base makeup that feels lighter & sheerer along your skin. How fortunate then, that with Lancôme’s new City Miracle CC CREAM SPF 50, you won’t have to sacrifice on either coverage or skincare benefits. Personally, I love the feel and effect of using this cream – but I do wish the colour range was a bit more extensive, as I believe it’s a product all complexions should have in their beauty arsenal. Listen up, Lancôme, cause you’ve got a winner here.

Available now through all Lancôme counters across Canada. Find more information via www.lancome.ca

CHANEL Rouge Coco | 424 Edith, 450 Ina, 456 Erik

March 10, 2015

Press samples provided for my unbiased consideration

CHANEL has reformulated and relaunched their range of Rouge Coco lipsticks, and has added several new shades to the lineup, all named after people/friends/lovers who were a source of inspiration to Gabrielle Chanel. I was recently sent 424 Edith, 450 Ina and 456 Erik (CAN $42.00) to try and after having fallen immediately in love with Arthur (a hot red hue which also happens to be the shade I’m constantly reaching for these days), I was excited to test these latest additions and see how they matched up. I must say, that all three surprised me with their application … but I happen to like {good} beauty surprises.

CHANEL Rouge Coco | 424 Edith, 450 Ina & 456 Erik

CHANEL Rouge Coco | 424 Edith, 450 Ina & 456 Erik swatches

CHANEL Rouge Coco | 424 Edith

424 Edith | What appears to be a warm and understated nude-pink in the tube, turns out to actually be a soft pink once applied. The formula on Edith is semi sheer with quite a bit of slip, but one which still gives good coverage without any bald patches left behind. Glossy and with no overt shimmer, there is a strong moisturizing feel that is not only immediately felt upon application, but even after the colour wears off. Staying power (not factoring in eating and/or drinking) is about 4 hours, with a hint of a rose stain left behind upon the lips. With its good balance of both warm and cool undertones, this is a shade that should suit a variety of skin tones – but will certainly appear darker or lighter, all dependant on the natural pigmentation of your lips (on me, this looks more light pink).

CHANEL Rouge Coco | 424 Edith

CHANEL Rouge Coco | 424 Edith swatch

CHANEL Rouge Coco | 450 Ina

450 Ina | Even though it’s clear that this is a hot pink shade, I was still unprepared for how colour saturated Ina appears once applied. Bearing the best opacity and coverage of the three, this shade has a bluish undertone with some violet flashes seen under certain lights, lending it a more fuchsia-like hue and a cool-leaning vibe. Super glossy and with visible shimmer (which feels ultra smooth upon the lips), I am able to easily get 5 hours worth of wear (again, not factoring in eating/drinking) with a nice rosy flush left upon the lips once the majority of colour has worn off, combined with a well-hydrated feel.

CHANEL Rouge Coco | 450 Ina

CHANEL Rouge Coco | 450 Ina swatch

CHANEL Rouge Coco | 456 Erik

456 Erik | A classic case of “don’t judge a book by its cover”, Erik – a deep raisin hue with slight plummy undertones and visible, but non-gritty shimmer – obviously appears super vampy/dark in the tube but as it turns out, this is actually the sheerest of the three – as well as needing a bit more effort for an even application. Personally, I’m not disappointed with the sheerness of the formula, as this turns Erik into a totally wearable (and surprisingly work-friendly) deep lip shade, with the added bonus of a sultry stain left behind once the colour has worn away. Alternatively, you can blot this shade down until you have just a hint of colour on the lips (as shown in the swatch below) for a ‘bitten effect’ – although some shimmery bits get left behind as well. Determining the staying power is a little difficult because even though the colour is on the sheer side, Erik still leaves the most visible stain behind, but I’m able to get about 4-5 hours of solid wear.

TIP: in order to achieve the most even application with this shade, you can either fully line and fill in your lips with a matching liner shade first – although that will result in a stronger look to this colour, or blot between applications to ensure lips are dry and the colour is able to adhere better overall, eliminating any patchiness.

CHANEL Rouge Coco | 456 Erik

CHANEL Rouge Coco | 456 Erik swatch

CHANEL Rouge Coco | 456 Erik swatch, blotted

Unlike their predecessors, these newly reformulated Rouge Coco lipsticks have a luxurious and moisturizing feel upon the lips, and that hydrated sensation stays with you long after the colour has worn off. From the four shades I currently have, it’s obvious that pigment saturation (and application) differs significantly one from the other, and my suggestion is that you test these out at the counter first before buying – as looks can be deceiving. While Edith is the type of shade that sits well within my comfort zone, my favourite turned out to be Ina to my complete surprise, especially considering that I’m not particularly fond of bright pink – but there’s something so sophisticated about this version … an intensity that keeps it from looking trendy or juvenile. Erik (still not used to seeing a man’s name on a lipstick), is was another surprise, but one I’ve totally embraced – despite its quirks. Or perhaps because of them?

The Rouge Coco range of lipsticks are available now at all CHANEL counters nation-wide. Find more information at chanel.com

Misslyn | #36 Champagne Velvet Diamond & #180 Red Carpet

March 5, 2015

Press samples provided for my unbiased consideration

Recently launched in Canada this past December and currently owned by cosmetic giant ARTDECO, Misslyn has long been a favourite brand throughout Europe for many years now. With a range of colour cosmetics and an even larger selection of nail polish in the core lineup, I was recently sent 2 shades to try out (CAN $9.99 each): #36 Champagne Velvet Diamond (textured finish) and #180 Red Carpet (high gloss lacquer).

#36 Champagne Velvet Diamond | A rose-gold tinted base filled with fine silver and pale pink glitter as well as larger silver hex glitter pieces, bearing a textured natural finish (similar to that of OPI Liquid Sand lacquers). The formula has an excellent density and stays exactly where applied without migrating into surrounding skin. With its almost contradictory rough/smooth grit, you have the option of adding a thickish topcoat to change the look and gloss it up. Removal is what you’d expect for this type of polish and any difficulty can be avoided by using a peel-off base coat underneath. Bonus: a very work-friendly way to wear glitter. Coats applied: 2

#180 Red Carpet | A highly colour-saturated cherry red hue that leans slightly cool due to the blueish undertones in the base. The hybrid crème/jelly formula is amazing in every way: smooth flow, excellent density & coverage/opacity, self-levelling, and coming to a super glossy finish. Something about the good mix of brightness and depth of tone to this shade, will make it suitable to a wide variety of skin tones. Relatively non-staining upon removal, but do not skip base coat first just the same. Coats applied: 2

Misslyn | #36 Champagne Velvet Diamond & #180 Red Carpet

Misslyn | #36 Champagne Velvet Diamond

Misslyn | #36 Champagne Velvet Diamond & #180 Red Carpet

Misslyn | #180 Red Carpet

New nail polish/beauty launches are always exciting as it helps to keep things fresh and the competition sharp. Removing from the equation the fact that these are not shades I might have picked out for myself (even though I actually like textured finishes like #36 Champagne Velvet Diamond, but don’t wear them often – and while I already have about a billion reds in my collection, the quality of #180 Red Carpet makes it a standout), I was left happily impressed just the same and curious to see the rest of the Misslyn lineup for myself (a good sign!).

Available exclusively through Shopper’s Drug Mart/Pharmaprix locations across Canada. Find more information on the brand by visiting misslyn.de