Sephora Collection Press Play Foundation Touch Up Pen

When I first spotted the Sephora Collection Press Play Foundation Touch Up Pen, I knew I had to have it in my life.  I've side-eyed Bobbi Brown's Foundation Touch-Up Sticks for years but had never pulled the trigger due to the price.  At $16, this seemed to be a decent compromise.

Here's the basic info:  the Sephora Collection Press Play Foundation Touch Up Pen is a synthetic fiber, fillable pen with a click mechanism that pushes the foundation/BB/CC of your choice through a thin tube into the brush head.  You can then use the brush head to blend out the foundation.  This is touted as the perfect tool for mid-day touch-ups.  For us ladies with 16+ hour days between leaving and coming home, perhaps an economical way to make mid-day touch-ups.

After a few days of testing it, I'm left with a distinct mix of emotions when it comes to the Sephora Collection Press Play Foundation Touch Up Pen.

First, the good.

At $16, it's affordable.  If one wanted to invest in several of these with different liquid makeup products in each, it's not rough on the wallet.

It's customizable.  Whereas I drooled over the Bobbi Brown stick that matched my old HG foundation, not everyone has a perfect color match in that line or particularly likes a stick foundation.  This allows you to take your favorite product with you.

Each click dispenses a small amount, which is excellent.  This is truly meant for touch-ups.  You don't get a face-sized amount with one click, you get enough to cover about half a hand.

This photo shows the width of the line of foundation you get with one click:

Here's the dispensing mechanism:

The synthetic brush is shockingly effective as a blending tool.  I wouldn't want to do my entire face with it, but it would work well in a small area- just as designed.  I'm a huge brush snob, so for me to enjoy this inexpensive synthetic brush is a bit out of character.

A close-up of the brush head:

Now, the not-so-good.

Look carefully at the size of that reservoir.  The fill line (which is essentially required in order to get it to function properly, as I learned from testing) is about 90% up.  It's a foundation hog!  If you're not sure if this product really will work for you, it could be an expensive endeavor.  In that photo, the ends that fit into each other are both facing the bottom of the image.

The refillable reservoir is also held in place by screwing it into the body of the pen.  It doesn't feel substantial to the touch, and I can easily envision a scenario where those small plastic grooves become stripped with usage and the two pieces separate in your bag.  The grooves are inside of the main body; the reservoir is smooth.

Speaking of the plastic body, there's no "hard click" with the lid.  I didn't attempt to break it, but I have my reservations about this will hold up in a purse.  If one of the major upsides to this product is portability, how much is lost if it needs to be within (preferably) a plastic bag or something else that you wouldn't mind getting foundation on.

Overall, I like the concept.  At $16, it's not hard on the wallet and worth a try. However, I'm still cautious about the durability of the product and protect my handbag and makeup cases accordingly.

The Sephora Collection Press Play Foundation Touch Up Pen retails for $16, and is available exclusively at Sephora.

NOTD: Essie Hide & Go Chic

Today is the Great American Race! Woo!  If you don't know what I'm talking about, you're missing out.  In honor, I've pulled out one of my appropriately-hued polishes to correspond with my favorite race team (usually).

Today's NOTD is Essie Hide & Go Chic, a beautiful blue that makes my heart skip a beat.  This has a great formula, and this is two coats, no topcoat.

Guerlain Meteorites Blossom Collection- Star Dust Nail Lacquer

Continuing the week of Spring 2014 collections, I present my second-ever purchase from Guerlain's Spring 2014 Collection: Meteorites Blossom.  Admittedly, I've not explored this brand much, although this purchase has already sent me in pursuit of additional colors from the La Laque Couleur line.

The Spring 2014 collection is designed to reflect the brilliance of stardust and the luminosity of the re-formulated Meteorites.  There is a limited-edition La Laque Couleur and matching lipgloss in the Star Dust shade.  I selected the nail polish after looking long and hard at the matching lipgloss.

Star Dust (#862) retails for $25 and is a limited-edition shade. I got mine at Nordstrom, but Sephora also has it listed on the website.  It is a sheer white with multi-colored reflections and shimmer.  It's hard to explain without seeing it in person.  The shimmer is far more obvious than, say Chanel Intermezzo.

These swatches are with three coats, and indoors, with flash.  They don't do it justice.  Please see Temptalia and The Beauty Look Book for better photos.


Next up: Essie Spring 2014 collection.

NOTD: Zoya Dove

Today's NOTD is a classic Zoya grey.  Dove is a grey creme.  This is 2 coats, no top coat.

NOTD: Deborah Lippmann Flowers in Her Hair

Today's NOTD is another Spring 2014 gem, Deborah Lippmann Flowers in Her Hair.  This is two coats, no topcoat.

Essie Spring 2014 Hide & Go Chic Collection

Today I have my selections from the newly-released Essie Spring 2014 Hide & Go Chic Collection.  I have been eagerly awaiting this collection since I saw a promo image for the collection and immediately went in search of its namesake.

I settled on the set of 4 minis: Hide and Go Chic, Fashion Playground, Romper Room, and Style Hunter.

This set covers the range of the Spring 2014 collection nicely. It's got bold colors, pastels, neutrals, and pop colors. I'm not really sure what the theme is, but there's something for everyone.

Today's post is meant to serve as a quick overview; I'll do full manis and NOTD posts for these shades over the next month or so.

Moving from left to right (and below, pinky-index fingers):

Romper Room is a light candy pink creme.  I found this to have surprisingly good coverage, and achieved full opacity in two coats.  It had a quick drying time, and leveled nicely.

Style Hunter is a pink/red creme that reminds me of Chanel Tapage.  It took two thin coats to cover the nail.

Fashion Playground is a mint creme with hidden silver glitter/shimmer that's present in the bottle but not on the nail, much like some of the recent light blues in recent collections. It only took two coats to cover the nail.  It's slightly muted compared to most of the other mints in my collection.

Hide and Go Chic is a knockout blue creme.  This color literally made me stop and stare when I saw a print ad, and go look for the collection's release date. Like the others, it only required two coats.

Using my fingers as a nail wheel:

I know it's a messy paint job, but I just wanted to show them on the nails before I get wheels in.


I found this set at Ulta, but the official release date for the collection is in March.

NOTD: Dior Bouquet

Today's NOTD is Dior Bouquet, from the Spring 2014 Trianon Collection. I previewed this color earlier in the week when I did my collection overview.  Bouquet is a creamy light coral creme.  Although it's not as fabulous as Bloom, the formula is still nice.

I'm wearing two coats, with no topcoat.

Chanel Le Vernis Coup de Coeur (#609)- Collection Variation

Since Chanel was the first to release their Spring 2014 collection (before Christmas!), it's only right that the next mini-collection has hit the streets.  La Collection Variation is focused on the lips, but has one new Le Vernis shade, Coup de Coeur, #609.  I have so many lipsticks and glosses that I passed on the rest of the collection for now, but couldn't resist a new Le Vernis!

Like the rest, Coup de Coeur retails for $27.  I purchased mine online from Nordstrom, but spotted it in-store at Macy's over President's Day weekend.  Side Note: This is becoming a pattern with Chanel, at least in my area. Nordstrom may be the first to have it online, but Macy's is the place to go to see the colors in-store first, it seems.  I haven't seen it on other websites, but look for it in the usual places ASAP.

This baby went right on my nails when I spotted the box on my doorstep.  It's photographed here with 2 coats, no topcoat.  If the light looks a little low, this was completely a "beat sunset" mani.

Coup de Coeur is a rich plum with a hefty dose of red undertones.  It's shockingly similar to Chanel April, and I've tried to capture that in my photos.

Here's the two bottles side by side outside in late afternoon light, no flash:

They're really close, aren't they?  It's even closer on the nails. 



This indoor photo, with flash exaggerates the difference between April and Coup de Coeur. However, it captures the undertones perfectly.

On the nail, in natural light, it's almost impossible to detect a difference. I couldn't find it with my eyes, so I'm not surprised it didn't show up in photographs. Luckily, I labeled this super quick shot for you. I know it's messy, but it's merely to show the colors.

Flash doesn't even help:

Bottom line: Coup de Coeur is a lovely, ladylike color that will go into heavy rotation in my nail polish collection. I've used about 1/8 of my bottle.  If you already own April, you probably don't need Coup de Coeur unless you have an obsessive need like I do to buy all of the Chanel polish!

Pricing/Availability: $27, at Chanel counters.

NOTD: Dior Pampille

Today's NOTD is one of the four polishes I previously featured from Dior's Spring 2014 collection.  Pampille, a milky mint shimmer, is the most temperamental of the polishes but also I believe the most unique.

This mani is with four thin coats, plus Deborah Lippmann Gel Lab topcoat.  Please excuse the condition of my cuticles, all the Creme Abricot in the world can't save them during the depths of winter!

Style Wednesday: 5 Investment Handbags

Since I'm re-discovering the fun in blogging and I think we could all use a pick-me-up on Wednesday (side note: although it's a short week here in the US, those often seem to be the longest!).  I'm playing around with a new feature idea- Style Wednesday.  Think of it as a break from straight up beauty for a brief moment.

Today, I present 5 investment handbags that I feel every professional woman should have in her closet!

Before I was a beauty junkie (really, an interruption to the beauty-love), I was a purse snob. However, something amazing happened along the way. I was able to edit my collection down to just ones that I love and use.  While I'm not saying that everyone should buy these exact bags, I recommend these styles to curate a truly useful collection.  For instance, I may recommend Kate Spade when you can afford the classic Chanel (which I'd love but can't fathom at this point in my life). Or, you may need Steve Madden or Nine West.  Think of these as my suggestions for somewhat-affordable investment pieces.

1. Balenciaga City Bag, $1545

Stock image via Balenciaga.com

This was the first It-Bag that I fell head over heels for.  In the mid-2000s, Balenciaga City Bags adorned all of the celebrities' arms in a rainbow of colors.  It took a few years and finding a pre-loved bag before I finally got my beloved 06 Black City.  Although it's a lot worse for wear these days, the urge to get a Balenciaga stopped once I finally owned my HG bag.  While I find black to be the perfect compromise between fashion and conservative office-wear, there are so many colors for you to choose from!  Just beware of the many, many fakes.  You can buy it directly from Balenciaga online, although I love looking through the collection at my local Neiman Marcus.



2. Michael Michael Kors Hamilton Large Saffiano Leather Tote, $358

Stock image via Nordstrom

Just to cleanse the palette from that first pricetag, here's a much more affordable investment bag.  I lusted over this bag for years.  I'm just sorry that I didn't purchase sooner! This image is Luggage, the color I own. I find that it matches everything. A word to the wise, go with the Saffiano Leather- it's waterproof.  You can fit so much into this bag that it's the perfect office go-to.  Available at Nordstrom, Macy's, and Michael Kors (among other places).


3. Kate Spade Sedgwick Place Large Phoebe Shoulder Bag ($478)

Stock image via Nordstrom

I'll be honest, I prefer the prior Gold Coast pattern, but I don't see it for sale from any reputable retailers.  So, I'm going to talk about the latest version of Kate Spade's quilted leather totes with chain handles.  It recalls classic Chanel, at a fraction of the price.  Pro tip: the outlets have their own pattern of quilted leather bags, and often you can score a large tote for less than $200.  Available in a number of colors (I own black, but have often thought about the cream as well) at Nordstrom and Kate Spade.

4. Longchamp Le Pliage- Large Tote ($145)

I truly believe every woman needs a Longchamp Le Pliage Tote or two in her purse wardrobe. I've literally traveled the world with mine, and they're the ultimate commuter bag that you don't have to worry about. For those living under a rock, these foldable totes are water-resistant and can truly take anything you can throw at them.  Although $145 may seem steep for a nylon tote, I trust the construction of these.  Available at Nordstrom.


5. Louis Vuitton Speedy ($890-$910+)

The Speedy is a classic handbag by a classic manufacturer and a classic shape.  You can decide the size, although I recommend either the 25, the smallest, or the 30 at largest. Otherwise, they start to droop too much and it looks like you're carrying luggage.  If she can afford it, every woman who wants a LV should have one.  Like my Balenciaga, I was able to find a pre-loved Speedy.  I happen to love the patina on the handles more than the raw vachetta leather, so it works.  I've had mine authenticated, so I don't have to worry. Don't mess with fake handbags, just buy directly from LV online.  I'm showing the Damier Ebene pattern, but you can find the Speedy in so many patterns and sizes that there's one for everyone.



That's it for this week's Style Wednesday!