New Bareminerals Gen Nude Collection with Swatches

An entire collection of nude shades?! Yes, please. Here is a look at some of the liquid lipsticks, glosses, lipsticks and lip liners in the Bareminerals GEN NUDE collection.

Below are the products mentioned in the video:

Bareminerals GEN NUDE Liquid Lipsticks

Bareminerals GEN NUDE Glosses

Bareminerals GEN NUDE Lipsticks

Bareminerals GEN NUDE Lip Liners

Clinique Pop Lacquer Lip Colors with Swatches

After declaring these Clinique lipsticks one of my Best of Beauty 2015, and these eyeshadows as part of my March 2015 favorites, it's clear that I am loving all things from the Clinique 'Pop' range. I could not get these Pop Lacquers on my lips fast enough when they arrived at my apartment. Sometimes I am drawn to a color category of a lip range just be looking at them (I recently picked up this lipstick in Histoire because that red looked way too good to pass up), and in this case I immediately went for the nude shades. 

All of the nude shades seemed to be right up my alley, and as soon as I swatched them it was evident they were going to stand out the most. The shades I have are all quite similar, though I find Nude Pop to be a bit more peachy while Sugar Pop and Wink Pop are a touch more pink. The texture feels like a mixture between a gloss and a balm with only a minimal amount of tackiness. They are definitely more sheer than the Pop Lip Colors, though the bolder shades definitely have much more pigmentation. 

My favorite standout from the bold shades was definitely Lava Pop which is rich enough to satisfy those looking for a red lip, but sheer enough to not scare off those that only dabble in the shade. Love Pop did come in at a close second because while it looks dark in the tube, it reads as a beautiful subtle plum-rose on the lips. The Pop Lacquers last about 4 hours before I need a touch up, with the bolder shades lasting a hint longer because they leave a slight stain on the lips. While I do love all my luxury brands, I have consistently been impressed with Clinique's launches over the past 2-3 years. Many of the makeup items are fast becoming staples in my makeup routine, which is finally catching up to the skincare pieces that have held permanent places in my regimen for years (this cleanser, this cleanser and this moisturizer are three of my all time favorites). 

*pr samples included

What are some of your favorite items from Clinique? Leave me a comment below!

Shop Clinique's newest launches:

Clarins Instant Light Lip Perfectors - The Perfect Lip Balm/Gloss Hybrid

There are some products that take me forever to finally try though they have been on my radar for years. But new launches often can distract me (ooooh something shiny *loses attention*). Thankfully I force myself to explore long-standing products regularly so I don't overlook any gems. These Clarins Instant Light Lip Perfectors manage to capture so many great lip product qualities in one formula. Hydrating and moisturizing like a balm, but with the pigmented shiny  finish of a gloss.

And then there is the color range. HELLO NEUTRALS! These are all super wearable, give just a hint of color to the lips yet can be worn alone or layered over multiple different lip products. To be honest, it just comes down to what color hits your fancy because as you can see from the below swatches, most of them look very similar on the lips.

My personal favorites are 05 and 06 because they have a bit more depth, while 01, 02 and 04 have a milky nude quality to them that looks best layered over a deeper shade.Yet still I added all 5 colors to my makeup bag because I adore all of them and find they will work interchangeably with most of my everyday looks.

Because the lip swatches all looked so similar, I felt that arm swatches would give a more accurate representation of the differences between each shade. The applicator is a cushy sponge that makes application foolproof. While there is a gorgeous shine with these lip perfectors, they are not tacky in the least. I would highly recommend giving these a try - your lips will thank me!

*pr samples included

Shop more of my Clarins favorites:

My Favorite Lipstick Formulas

Remember that children's story about the old woman that lived in her shoe? Well, I feel like I will be the old woman that lives in a lipstick. Or with lipsticks. Or made out of a house of lipsticks. Lipsticks are the easiest satiate that need to get some retail therapy and have always been one of my favorite makeup products. So I thought this post was necessary - a list of my absolute favorite holy grail lipstick formulas (and a few glosses thrown in there because they are too good not to mention). Most of these have been in my collection for a while and continue to remain a favorite. All have been reviewed on the blog before so I will link back to prior posts that feature each one.

1. Chantecaille Lip Chics (post here) - Though this sounds almost ridiculous, these lipsticks feel like they are actually hugging my lips when I apply them. The color immediately adheres to the lip but in the softest and smoothest way. And since just about every lipstick in the world makes my mom's lips peel, the fact that these do not speaks again to their amazing formula.

2. Hourglass Extreme Sheen Lip Gloss (post here and here) - While I will always reach for a lipstick first, these Hourglass Lip Glosses can definitely compete. They feel more like a creamy balm on the lips than a sticky, tacky gloss. So in addition to giving insane shine and coverage, they help to nourish and moisturize my lips.

3. Clinique Color Pop Lip Colors (post here) - Something about these lipsticks appealed to me from the moment they launched. I don't know if it was the name, the packaging, the colors - who knows, but I immediately was excited to try them. And they thankfully lived up to my imagined hype. The formula is incredibly creamy, yet has coverage that rivals the matte-st of lipsticks. Between the gorgeous nudes and vibrant bold shades, there is a color for everyone.

4. Lipstick Queen Cupid Strikes pencils (post here) -  When I first got into buying jumbo lip pencils, I was all over the NARS formulation. However, since then I have found a handful of other brands that blow NARS pencils out of the water. These pencils from Lipstick Queen are the perfect middle ground in terms of formulation. Medium coverage, demi-matte and last a good 4-5 hours but don't need industrial strength cleanser to remove.

5. Sisley Phyto-Lip Twists (post here) - Ok, I will admit it was the zebra print packaging that first lured me in with these lip pencils. But thankfully, the formula and color range kept me using them again and again. The texture is a hybrid between a balm and lipstick, with a slightly creamy/glossy finish. I adore wearing them alone (see Cherry in action in this outfit post), and because of their moisturizing formula I also add them on top of a more drying lipstick to help make my lips more comfortable.

6. Buxom Lip Polish (post here) - I can take it or leave it with those lip plumping products that make your lips tingle (and occasionally burn - eek). So I gave the side eye to Buxom lip polishes and creams forever because of this. But I heard over and over (and over) again just how phenomenal they were and didn't understand what the hype was all about. Finally I had the chance to try them and within a few seconds of applying to my lips I understood the buzz.  They glide on easily, have a minty scent and give a light tingle that actually feels fresh on the lips rather than bothersome. The nude shades are my favorite and shockingly they never settle into lip lines which is my struggle with all neutral toned glosses. They wear beautifully alone or over top another color and I need to touch up less often than most other glosses.

7. Bobbi Brown Art Sticks (post here and here) -THE most perfect matte jumbo lip pencil ever. Hands down. All the rest can go home. These are not drying, glide on effortlessly and last forever. All matte lipsticks should take a lesson from these art sticks - they are the gold standard in my opinion.

8. Gucci Audacious Color-Intense Lipstick (post here) - While I only have one shade in this formulation (Iconic Red), it still earns a place in my favorites because it is one of the best made lipsticks I've ever tried. It's full coverage yet not a mess to apply, creamy with just enough slip and gives a natural finish that skews neither too matte or too shiny. It's perfectly in the middle. And writing this post reminds me that I need to buy more colors. *adds to cart*

9. Aerin Rose Balm Lipsticks (post here) - I picked these up when they launched a few years ago and have loved the formulation ever since. They are a sheer to medium balm-like lipstick that gives the lips the healthiest looking shine. Lip lines look minimized and they are perfect for summer because of the sheer nature and winter because of the moisturizing formula. 

What are you favorite lipstick and/or gloss formulas?! Leave me a comment below!

Review: NARS Fall 2015 Collection with Swatches

NARS can really be hit or miss for me to be honest. Sometimes I love their new collections, and sometimes I am not excited for them. But this one for Fall seemed right up my alley and I found the colors to be wearable and absolutely stunning! Here are my picks from the collection:

1. Velvet Shadow Sticks in Goddess and Sukhothai (swatches are the two on the far left above) - These shadow sticks are creamy, intensely pigmented and last all day. What is there not to love? I find them easy to blend without having to rush for fear that it will set immediately. I like using the pale color, Goddess all over the lid and then the deep green, Sukhothai smudged close to the lash line. All of the colors are wearable and perfect for the fall.

2.  Dual Intensity Eyeshadows in Pasiphae and Telesto - I already have the NARS Dual Intensity Palette which I enjoy but these two are perfect additions to the collection. The rich brown, Telesto is a neutral lovers dream, while the multi-faceted green/brown Pasiphae is one of the most unique shadow colors I have seen in a long time. I wish more brands would make these duo-chrome type shadows with a brown base because as someone that prefers neutral shades, it's a great way to incorporate a bit of another color into a look without completely committing. I suspect that Pasiphae will be the one in heaviest rotation this fall.

3. Lip gloss in Baby Doll and Chelsea Girls (Baby Doll is far left, Chelsea Girls is the middle pic above) - Is it crazy that I remember these two shades when they were in the pot formulations? Does anyone else remember that? I used to LOVE these two colors but did not like having to stick my finger in a little jar each time I wanted to reapply. I am so excited to see these in a lip gloss formulation with a doe foot applicator. Baby Doll is a bit more shimmery than I prefer but after wearing it around a few days, it is growing on me. Chelsea Girls is absolutely perfect and a suitable color for day or night. It's a makeup bag staple. The formula is a tad sticky so I have to wear these when my hair is up or else any slight wind makes me look like cousin It when stray hairs stick to my lips. Womp.

4. NARS Audacious Mascara - The brush for this mascara really got me going when I pulled it out of the box. I showed a close up of it on my Instagram - see that picture here. I had high hopes for this one to give me a strong and dramatic lash. But sadly I was left very underwhelmed. The bristles are too far apart for my liking so the result is a more wispy and feathery lash rather than a thick and voluminous one. The key however to building up any bit of volume with this is to let each coat dry a bit before applying the next. The bristles will stick to the product that has dried on the lash, allowing for a denser look. However, it is still not as dense as I would prefer. But for those that have very thick lashes already, this may be a great way to give them some length and volume. For now, I will stick with my mascara faves - this one, this one and this one.

*pr samples included

What have you picked up from this collection? Any faves?

The Lipgloss/Balm Hybrids

Recently I have seen a ton of new lipgloss/balm hybrids popping up all over the place. As someone that is not a huge lipgloss fan (my hair always sticks to my lips - ugh), I was a bit hesitant. I love a sheer lip color that has a bit of shine, but that awful tackiness has GOT TO GO. Thankfully though, these new formulations blend the best of both worlds, without the dreaded sticky feeling that I try to avoid with lipglosses/balms. After testing out a few of these new formulas (and some old ones that I recently discovered), I figured I would do a round up and share my thoughts on each.

1. YSL Volupte Tint-in-Oil - I was not sure I would love these when I first saw them online, but the pull was just too great to resist. So I picked up two of the shades and promptly fell in love with the formula. They smell amazing and feel even better on the lips. Since they have more of an oil base, there is a strong slip to them yet they don't feel like a gloss, but more like a hydrating balm. But the color pay-off is quite minimal so almost any shade you pick up will end up looking the same.

2. Clarins Instant Light Lip Balm Perfector - This is the only one in the entire bunch that is actually a lip balm in a stick form and I simply adore it. What drew me in with this one was the color - Rosewood. It is the most perfect "lip color but better" shade and I love to add it on top of whatever nude lip I am wearing that day to help add some moisture and a bit of shine.

3. Almay Liquid Lip Balm - The texture of these Almay balms is almost more of a gel than a balm. They are incredibly sheer, add just the slightest hint of color and have a slight cooling feeling on the lips which is one of the reasons I enjoy wearing them so much. Though they feel great on the lips, I do have to reapply all the time, so I tend to save these for the weekends when I don't need my makeup to last all day.

4. Zelens Lip Glaze - Initially I thought these lip glazes would wear as a gloss, but as soon I applied them I was pleasantly surprised to see how nourishing and comfortable they felt on the lips. They are hydrating with a slight gel texture, but surprisingly have more color pay-off than I anticipated. I feel like I can wear these alone without having to layer over a deeper or more pigmented lip color. The best benefit of these lip glazes is the long lasting hydration I get when wearing them. I have been suffering from insanely dry lips this winter, and most lip balms help for a few hours but my lips get dry again by midday. When I wear the Zelens lip glazes, I find that my lips stay hydrated and comfortable much longer than most other balms. 

5. Clarins Instant Light Lip Comfort Oil - If I had to pick a favorite out of this entire bunch, it would definitely be this Clarins Lip Comfort Oil. Between the applicator (which feels like the softest cushion ever) and the insanely nourishing formula, this oil feels like heaven on my lips. It adds little to no color and is not sticky in the least - and has been permanently housed in my makeup bag since the day I received it.

6. Lancome Dewy Color Lip Perfector - While I love this new lip balm/gloss hybrid, I still love a lip color with strong payoff. After just one swipe of these new Lancome Lip Perfectors, I knew I had found the perfect balance. They have great pigmentation, while still feeling like a soft hydrating balm on the lips. They are a bit heavier than the YSL, but as with the YSL, they don't have that heavy tacky feeling that many glosses tend to have. 

*pr samples included