Review: Kevyn Aucoin Neo-Trio Palette with Swatches

It was 100% the look/packaging of this KA Neo-Bronzer Face Palette that first drew me in and made me want to test it out. In fact, I reviewed it and used it in a tutorial last year because it quickly became a regular cheek color that I used last summer. Since then, I have not had the chance to test out the other two launches with a similar look to this bronzer, but was thrilled to finally do so when Kevyn Aucoin sent over this new set. You can't see from the above picture, but all three are magnetized so they stick together or can be pulled apart as I have shown.

The bronzer shade is more of a cheek color for me since it has a great deal of orange/pink in it and was wayyyyy too dark when worn over my entire face. However, as I showed in this video, it really shocked me by how easily it applied, didn't oxidize and gave a gorgeous peachy flush to the cheeks. The Neo-Limelight Palette (purple ombre one) is stunning in theory and has a gorgeous texture, but the iridescent/opalescent look wasn't my favorite. I could apply it with a light enough hand that the multi-dimensional glow was minimal but then what is the point, ya know? The third powder in the set, the Neo-Setting Powder, is made for dusting all over the face or using as a highlight and was definitely more suited to my tastes. Though there is a slight sheen to the powder, I was able to dust it around my face without looking like a discoball. However, if you have more oily skin, I am not sure it would be best used all over but rather concentrated as a highlighter. That being said, when used as a highlighter it is incredibly subtle and perfect for using everyday. Sadly though, it may not be suited for all skin tones because of it's super pale/whitish pigmentation. 

The formulation of all three powders is what I expect from Kevyn Aucoin beauty - blendable and incredibly smooth. For me, the Neo-Limelight Palette wasn't something I would use regularly, but I will say that I have seen soooo many positive reviews on it from other bloggers and people on Instagram which is worth mentioning since I think many of you would still enjoy it. The bronzer and finishing powder are both products that can easily be added into a daily routine and wear beautifully on the skin. The whole set retails for $58.

*pr samples included

Shop more of my Kevyn Aucoin favorites:

4 Red Lipsticks I'm Loving Right Now

Though I love the look of a neutral lip, I actually find red lips to be much easier to wear. And I will tell you why. With a nude lip, I often need to create a stronger eye, cheek and brow look to balance it, while a red (or bold) lip can be worn with lashes, a dash of bronzer and a quick grooming of the brows for a finished look. Here are 4 lipsticks that I recently discovered that I've been wearing a lot lately (and it doesn't hurt that it's the holiday season so I have an extra excuse to sport a red lip all the time).

1. MAKE Cosmetics in Maraschino Cherry - I am new to the MAKE cosmetics brand, but when they sent over some products for me to try, I zeroed in on this red lip immediately. It's a comfortable satin formula that doesn't wear too shiny or too matte and is a nice change from my regular orange-reds that I usually gravitate towards. Though the bullet is a different shape than I am used to, I found it incredibly easy to apply (even more so than the regular shaped bullets) and that's half the battle with a red lip, amiright??

2. Gucci Lipstick in Iconic Red - This color is not for the faint of heart - I should warn you now. This is one of the boldest and most vibrant reds I have ever worn and I simply adore it. In fact, it actually ranks in my top 5 favorite reds at this point. That is how much it has impressed me and I've only had it for a few weeks. The color was designed to be the exact match for the red in the iconic Gucci green and red stripe, and it looks flawless on. The formula is a fuller coverage and surprisingly is so comfortable on the lips. I was not impressed with the Gucci lipsticks when first swatching them at the store and felt they wouldn't be worth the investment. After caving and buying just this one and then wearing it over the past month, I can say without a doubt I was 100% wrong. This texture is one of the best I've ever tried and I only wish all of my lipsticks could feel this way on my lips.

3. Lipstick Queen Silver Screen Lipstick in Have Paris - This is a much more sheer formula but can easily be built up to give a full coverage as seen above. The formula is very soft and feels almost like a balm when it first applies. It has a slightly shiny finish so I find it doesn't wear as long as some of my other formulas, but it's a better option for days that I don't want such an intense and bold look. We all have those days, right?

4. Kevyn Aucoin Lipstick in Eliarice - I am a bit disappointed in the way the swatches came out for this color because the camera is skewing it to be a bit more blue. The truth is that when I first saw this shade, it looked like a brown red with a hint of blah orange. I was not excited in the least since I always like the "wow" factor of vibrant shades. Sadly I waited a week before trying this out and wasted 7 days of my life not enjoying this color! It is AH-MAY-ZING. Wearable, not obnoxious, so comfortable on the lips and easy to pair with a stronger eye without competing or creating a look that screams "she is wearing too much makeup". I don't know where this color has been my whole life, but I feel like a better human being now that I have found it.

*pr samples included

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What are some of your go-to red lipsticks now? Let me know below in the comments!

The Eye Shadow Brushes I Use Every Day

Every since I learned how to properly use makeup brushes, I've used them ever since. Rarely do I apply my eye shadow with my fingers because I have become so accustomed to the ease and technique of a brush.  Here is a look at the brushes I use regularly (if not every day) to apply my eye makeup.

1. Laura Mercier All Over Eye Color Brush - Though this is actually a travel size, the brush is one of my favorite brushes. It is perfect for applying color on the lid and gives great coverage with little to no fallout. And it fits on my lid as if it were made for it which makes application so easy. 

2. MAC 212 Brush - This is my brush I use for powder or cake liner. I have been moving more towards gel liner over the past two years but occasionally I will still use a powder liner and this brush allows me to get an extra thin line close to my lash line.

3. Laura Mercier Pony Tail Brush - Hello most amazing crease brush EVER! I absolutely adore the shape of this blending brush and love the super airbrushed finish it can give my crease. This along with the All Over Eye Color Brush are probably the brushes I use every day regardless of the look I am doing. They are vital to my makeup routine. 

4. MAC 210 Brush - Though super small and dainty, this liner brush is extremely easy to work with and surprisingly sturdy. I use it to apply my gel liner and find that it makes the process much easier than I imagined it could be. I am awful at applying liquid liner and was afraid I would have the same issue with gel liner, but this brush has made all the difference. 

5. MAC 239 Brush - This is a classic MAC brush and one that you will most likely find in almost every makeup artist's brush belt. I have 2 or 3 of these and have been using them for about 8 years - that is how long they last and how great they are to use. I typically like to use this brush for cream eye shadows and shadows that I want to apply with intensity. The tightly packed bristles makes all the difference when using highly pigmented shadows to ensure you get an intense pay-off. 

6. MAC 217 Brush - In addition to my Pony Tail Brush, this is my second favorite blending brush for the crease. Because the shape is a bit more narrow, it is better for using on the outer corners of my eyes when adding a darker shade into the crease. The tighter bristle shape allows for a more precise application and blending of the color - which works for me the best when I am doing a smokey eye look.

7. Kevyn Aucoin Small Round Tip Eye Shadow Brush - This is the final brush in my blending trio and is best for a super precise crease look. It is small enough to really get into the outer corner of the eye perfectly, yet the bristles are soft enough that they can blend a dark color seamlessly. I also use this to get a soft smudgey look on my upper lash line when I don't want a harsh liner but rather a soft and smokey effect. 

What are your favorite eye shadow brushes to use?

A Few New Fall Lip Colors

Dark and bold lip colors for fall? Groundbreaking. I can't help but jump on the cliche bandwagon every time the seasons change. Brights for summer, pastels for spring and dark and bold lip colors for fall. Now that being said, I still wear any color any time of the year because I'm a grown-ass adult and do what I want. But when I'm not exercising my right to wear my big girl pants, I will always fall prey to season appropriate makeup shopping. And here is a look at three new lip colors I am adding to my fall lip collection. And some deep maroon carnations I found at the market which seemed perfect for the shot! How Pinterest-y of me.

1. YSL Glossy Stain #1Violet Edition -This is my second glossy stain and I have to say that I prefer the lighter shades in this formula. My glossy stain in Coril Fauve is so easy and beautiful to wear, but my lips need to be extremely exfoliated to wear this deep purple shade. However, I am so in love with this deep eggplant color that I simply deal with the high maintenance of wearing it. And it looks simply divine when layered with another dark gloss or balm - my favorite is the Fresh Sugar lip balm in Passion. It's the perfect plum-purple lip!

2. Guerlain KissKiss Shaping Cream Lip Color in #321 Red Passion - This color looks a bit deeper in person, but is the absolute perfect balance of pink, red and purple. And I have been dying to try this new formula from Guerlain, but was a bit disappointed when I saw many of the colors had shimmer or glitter. But as soon as I swatched this shade, I knew it was coming home with me. Guaranteed sass off the charts when sporting this color. *insert emoji with her hand up next to her hair*

3. Kevyn Aucoin Bloodroses - Ah, the ever famous Kevyn Aucoin Bloodroses shades. It comes in a gloss, lipstick, lip liner and nail polish and it is stunning. The gloss seemed right up my alley for giving a dark and moody lip that doesn't look too stark in contrast to my pale skin. Rarely do I find a gloss that feels much like a balm, but this has properties of both. Even in the picture you can see how smooth and hydrating this color looks on the lips, and wearing it is feel even better. The deep brown undertone of this color makes it perfect for a neutral eye and cheek and if I had to guess, suitable for just about any skin tone. I love all three of my new fall lips, but this is the one that I would recommend picking up first.  But I don't want to be bossy, so it's your choice. (pick this one. do it.)

*pr samples included

What are some of your favorite fall lip shades? 

Rotating In Some New Lip Colors

So many lipsticks, only one pair of lips. Amiright???? Either way, I can't turn down a chance to try a new lip color, even if it may take me 178 years to finally finish all of them. I've tried a slew of colors in the past few weeks and narrowed it down to my 7 top favorites. Some are neutral and some are bold, so clearly I am turning over a new leaf permanently because my nude to bold ratio is almost even at this point. Who am I, right? But bold lips are often the easiest to throw on in the morning when I don't want to fuss with eye makeup.

The NARS Velvet lip liners are the newest of the colors shown and I picked a vibrant orange in Playa Dorado and a bold pale peach in Anse Soleil.The texture gives a strong matte finish but I actually like wearing them as full lip colors rather than just a liner. The Playa Dorado is one that I have been pairing with my Clinique Baby Tints (read my review here) in Coming Up Rosy and Poppin Poppy. Because the NARS liner is so pigmented and the Baby Tints are so sheer, it's like a match made in heaven. They are a bit more matte in my opinion than the NARS Velvet Matte Lip Pencils, so a balm or gloss over top is a must for me. But the color pay off is IN-TEN-SE. And that's what I love about it.

I'm new to the Lipstick Queen brand but one of my favorite nude lips is Saint Pinky Nude (seriously it's perfect), so I was anxious to try more.The Velvet Rope lipsticks in Brat Pack and Private Party are truly decadent. They are quite a splurge at $50, but you seriously get what you pay for with these. These are one of the smoothest textures I've tried and they have the softness of a nourishing lip balm with the color pay-off of an intense matte texture. You can see even in my swatches how the color looks so even and creamy. And Brat Pack is such a gorgeous elegant red that I feel like a sassy pants (I mean, more than normal) whenever I wear it. The lipstick in Saint Rose is part of the their Sinner/Saint collection, and the Saint lipsticks are always more sheer and hydrating. The color is definitely unique in that it looks quite different swatched on the arm versus on the lips. On the lips, it looks like a red/rose, whereas on the arm is reads more plum. It's different than anything I currently have in my collection (I know, I can't believe it either) and that's why I like it.

After going on and on about the Kevyn Aucoin loose shimmer shadows in Monday's post, the love continues with two lip shades from the line. I posted a pic on Instagram when I first received the Expert Lip Color in Jorjia because I couldn't believe how stunning this fuchsia looked on. And considering I wasn't wearing any makeup in that picture, yet the color still looked amazing says everything. The Matte Lip Color in "For Keeps" is a bit more muted but I actually sheered it out a bit in the picture. If applied with a heavy hand, this color is an intense vibrant coral. I prefer the way I show it in the picture because it looks like a gorgeous nude lip. Usually I throw on a clear balm or sheer gold gloss and it makes a great complement to a bronzy smokey eye.

What new lip colors are you loving? Any recent purchases that you think I should know about? Let me know if the comments below!

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A Refined Shimmer

Being a matte eye shadow fan, it's rare I find high shimmer shadows that rival my beloved matte textures. I wear shadows that have various amounts of reflective pigments but nothing like these Cle de Peau Beaute quads and Kevyn Aucoin loose shimmer shadows. These give high intensity shine, but look incredibly wearable. It's almost hard to describe in words how beautiful all of these look on the lid, because the color and finish of each is so unique. But trust me when I tell you, they will convert a matte fan to a shimmer fan immediately.

1. Kevyn Aucoin Loose Shimmer Shadows - You will never want to wear another pigment once you have given these a try. I read a ton of reviews online giving these high praise and I am not surprised. They take finely milled shimmer pigments to another level. There is minimal fall out but when used with this or this eye primer they adhere immediately. I can apply the roller ball directly to my lids, but I prefer to use a brush to pack the color on evenly. Blending with these is effortless and they look almost like liquid metal on the lids. Naturally I initially gravitated to Candlelight, but after using them all my favorite is Amethyst. Who knew? It's different from my normal muted nude tones, but looks like jewels on the eyes. See swatches below of the 4 colors Kevyn Aucoin sent over that I've been testing.

2. Cle de Peau Beaute Fall 2014 Eye Color Quads - Cle de Peau Beaute is a new brand to me, but one that has been on my radar FOREVER. Shortly after the fall 2014 collection launched, I was chomping at the bit to get my hands on these quads especially since the initial swatches and reviews were stellar. Cle de Peau Beaute graciously sent these over for me to test and I am not exaggerating when I say that my mouth dropped open the first morning I used one. The shadows are powder but feel so soft as if they were a cream. I immediately honed in on quad 307 and loved those warm browns and plum shade. But I have been experimenting with the other quads to push myself out of my comfort zone and I am quite shocked at how much I love a bit more color on the lids. Quad 302 contains the absolute perfect shade of forest green, and quad 306 is going to be my first choice for a fall smokey eye. There are a total of 8 shades, so be sure to check out the other colors - I am thinking about picking up 305 next. The shadows and case are sold separately, so it can be really great to travel with if you want to remove and place into a portable Z palette.

I highly recommend trying both of these shadows, regardless of whether you are a shimmer or matte texture fan. They are sure to win over both parties.

Have you tried these shadows? What are your thoughts?

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Fair Skin Approved Bronzers

I have always had mixed feelings about bronzers. Sometimes I like them, sometimes I don't. But every summer I feel that pull to give them a go again and see if I can achieve a natural bronzed look that works for pale skin. Currently this has been my go-to bronzer for the past couple of months, so I was quite surprised to venture back out into the world of bronzers and discover so many great options for fair skin. I'm also currently deciding if I should splurge on this Charlotte Tilbury set from the Nordstrom Anniversary sale because it seems like sculpted cheekbones in a case, but I haven't yet pulled the trigger. My preferences are still powder over gel, cream or liquid but I can be easily swayed if I find something fabulous. Here are my 4 (yes 4, can you believe it?) new (to me that is) bronzer discoveries:

1. Too Faced Milk Chocolate Soleil Bronzer in Light/Medium - The first thing to hit you when you open the compact is most definitely the scent - chocolate. Yum! And not that sickeningly sweet type of fragrance that nauseates you - this is a scent I can tolerate and actually like. It does dissipate once you apply in case that is a concern. Now on to the texture - like velvet. So smooth, delicate and finely milled that as soon as you dip the brush in powder goes everywhere. But to be honest, that is not a deterrent at all because the formula is so beautiful. I use as a contour or a bronzer and it gives an amazing subtle glow. I will be hitting pan on this for sure.

2. Laura Mercier Matte Radiance Baked Powder in Bronze 02 - Another finely milled powder that has a tendency to disperse everywhere when you dip a brush into it, but as with the  Too Faced bronzer the formula is worth it. A bit more shine than the Too Faced, it goes on evenly and does not oxidize. I apply it onto my cheeks and hairline to help give the face a bit of definition and radiance. And after the reviews I keep hearing about the Matte Radiance Highlighter, I think that may be the next piece I buy from this range to pair with the bronzer. My cheekbones are in for a treat, that's for sure. 

3. Kevyn Aucoin Celestial Bronzing Veil Tropical Days - This is the boldest of all the four bronzers but I still swoon every time I use it. It has a shimmer that runs through it, as evidenced by the ombre pattern, however when applied to the skin it turns to a beautiful glow rather than an overdone sparkle. I love this bronzer more for the evening, and especially when paired with a sultry smokey eye for added drama. Kevyn Aucoin was always the master of achieving a flawless complexion and this bronzer is no doubt a tribute to that legacy.

4. Chantecaille St. Barth's Bronzer - I can't decide which I like more about this bronzer - the packaging or the formula. The mirrored compact is so elegant, as is all Chantecaille packaging that I can't help but feel luxurious when using. It's also the least bulky out of the 4 so undoubtedly it will be with me when I travel. This St. Barth's shade is part of their Summer 2014 collection and definitely has a bit more shimmer than the Too Faced or Laura Mercier, but does not make the face look too shiny or powdered. While I typically dust bronzer along my cheeks and hairline, I find this looks beautiful when worn on the apples of my cheeks as if it were a standard blush. It gives a warmth and brightness that other bronzers tend to turn into a muddy mess if worn on the same part of the face. Another win by Chantecaille, which is quickly solidifying their position as one of my favorite brands of all time.

*press samples included

Have you entered my Sunday Riley skincare giveaway??!! It's a good one, trust me. Enter here!

What are some of your favorite bronzers? Any I should try? Tell me in the comments below!

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