NOTD: SpaRituals Homebody

Today's NOTD is SpaRituals Homebody.  I received it in 2013 in a subscription box, luckily.  Why luckily?  I would've likely passed this shade up.  As it turns out, it's a lovely neutral.

Swatches are two coats, no top coat.

Chanel Le Vernis 613 Eastern Light- Collection Reflets d'Ete de Chanel Summer 2014

Today I have the final polish from Chanel's Collection Reflects d'Ete de Chanel Summer 2014 to share. I saved this for last because it's actually not a new shade.

Chanel Les Vernis #613 Eastern Light was originally released as a part of the Hong Kong Collection (with Western Light), which was exclusive to Asia, select Chanel boutiques, and Chanel.com. It's since gained a number and went down in cost ($30 for the Hong Kong release, $27 Summer 2014).

Eastern Light is a chalky, milky white creme.  Like most whites, it's a tricky formula.  It's also unfortunately not the awesome gel-like consistency of the more pigmented shades in this collection.  Like most other white shades I've ever worked with, Eastern Light is thicker and dries slowly.  It also requires a steady hand.

I have three coats plus Butter London Hardware on my nails here:

I pulled a few of the easily accessible white shades from my collection.

Butter London Cotton Buds is actually the closest to Chanel Eastern Light. Unless you're a Chanel collector, I'd actually recommend Cotton Buds over Eastern Light because the formula is actually a bit easier to work with. Still, as a collector I'm happy to have this in my collection.

Burberry Sheer Eyeshadow No 16 Pearl Blue

I hesitate to blog about this shade because it's simply close to impossible to find.  I spent the greater part of a Saturday calling various Burberry counters before I located one of the last six (yes, you're reading that correctly) shadows in their system.  And since it was out-of-stock everywhere else, I'd wager that these were the last six in the US.

However, Burberry Sheer Eyeshadow #16 Pearl Blue is just so beautiful that I can't help but share it with the world. I'm hopeful that it will be restocked eventually.

Pearl Blue is a beautiful light blue with significant grey undertones. It reads as a soft satin/metallic shade. The subtle glitter in the pan doesn't translate.  This light blue almost glimmers with a metallic sheen.  This shade is amazing.  With primer, this lasts a full day. I find it works best with greys and more greys!

I have a few swatches and a small comparison shot to share:

Outside, without flash:

Outside, with flash:

Inside, without flash:

Inside, with flash:

The flash really brings out the lovely grey undertones in this shade.

I don't have a large number of light blue-grey shades in my collection, but I pulled the few that I had in comparison. I have blue eyes, so I tend to avoid blue shadows.

Dior Bleu de Paris #5 (the center shade) is similar, but about half a shade lighter and sheerer.
Dior Bleu de Paris #1 (upper left) is darker but a similar amount of shimmer.
NARS Island Fever #1 lacks a grey content. It's sky blue.

Overall, I adore this shade. I just hope that it comes back in stock. I found mine at the Burberry counter at Nordstrom San Francisco Centre.

NOTD: Essie I Am Strong

A bit out of season, today's NOTD is one of Essie's 2012 BCA shades, I Am Strong.

2 coats, no top coat. And one fantastic cause.

Chanel Le Vernis 621 Tutti Frutti & 619 Pink Tonic- Collection Reflets d'Ete de Chanel Summer 2014

As I work my way through my purchases from Chanel's Collection Reflets d'Ete de Chanel Summer 2014, I'm doubling down on two of my favorite shades from the collection: #621 Tutti Frutti and #619 Pink Tonic. If the information I have is correct, Tutti Frutti is the only shade joining Chanel's permanent collection.

Both Tutti Frutti and Pink Tonic have the incredible, gel-like formula that I raved about with Mirabella. Both are nearly one-coaters and have incredible pigment and shine. These are some of the best Le Vernis formulas I've ever had the pleasure of owning.  And as a Chanel Le Vernis collector, that's saying a lot.

Chanel Le Vernis #621 Tutti Frutti is a lovely pink-red-coral hybrid. It's difficult to describe other than "amazing." I don't have anything like it in my collection.

Depending on the light, it looks red, red-pink, or coral.  This is truly a stunning shade, and I have a feeling this will be my constant companion this summer!

I highly recommend that everyone checks out this shade. I wish I had more adjectives to describe it because I'm in love with it.  I could've just kept taking photos and staring at my nails, but I had another polish to try: Pink Tonic.

Chanel Le Vernis #619 Pink Tonic is a vibrant gel-like bright pink. It's almost a one-coater, and so shiny.  I did use a second coat and Butter London Hardware in my photos, but if you're traveling you could skip the top coat.  It's just that shiny.

Pink Tonic is a cool-toned pink but very vibrant. It's not until I photographed it side by side with Tutti Frutti that the cool undertones jumped out at me.

I photographed these two together because they are in similar color families. I hope this photo will illustrate:

Of course, I'm not going to tease you with a photo of an unlabeled swatch wheel:

I don't have anything like the formula on either shade.  I couldn't find a dupe for Tutti Frutti in my stash.  Tom Ford Indian Pink is the closest shade to Chanel Pink Tonic. Tom Ford Nail Lacquers are gel-based, but I think the Chanel formula might even be a bit better than Tom Ford's. Overall, these are two of the best shades I've ever worked with, and I encourage everyone to check them out!

Burberry Lip Glow No 20 Pink Sweet Pea

Today I bring you the sister gloss to Mallow Pink, the first product featured this month.  Pink Sweet Pea was a limited edition gloss from the same Spring collection. I purchased mine recently directly from Burberry, but I've also seen it recently at Net-a-Porter.

Pink Sweet Pea is a saturated hot pink gloss that's quite unlike anything else in Burberry's line. There's a serious sheen to it that makes this gloss stand out from a crowd.

I love the pigmented formula of Burberry Lip Glow, and Pink Sweet Pea is a bit out of the box for this line dominated by neutrals. I don't have many pictures to share today, but it's beautiful.  Wear time on these glosses is pretty good for a gloss- a few hours.

My swatches will tell the tale:

Outside, no flash:

Outside, with flash:

Inside, without flash:

Inside, with flash:

I've mentioned my love for hot pink glosses on this blog recently but also how few I own.  I had only one (Chanel Glossimer Jalousie) to compare to Sweet Pea.

They're quite similar, although Sweet Pea is slightly lighter and lacks any of the shimmer that Jalousie has.  Sweet Pea is also lighter in consistency and has an inner sheen that Jalousie lacks.

I love Sweet Pea and hope that Burberry continues to explore brighter shades like this with future releases.

NOTD: Butter London Keen

In all honesty, this nail probably deserves its own post because it was a new release. However, since Butter London's Summer 2014 collection is trickling into stores, it's been relegated to a NOTD.

Keen was released as part of Butter London's Boho Rock Spring 2014 collection. It's a lovely, soft peach with pink shimmer. I initially passed because I already own a bright peach coral (Kerfuffle).

Keen is incredibly soft yet pigmented. I love it!

I have two coats plus Butter London Hardware on my nails.

Sunday Dreaming

I'm in a unique position with Sunday Dreaming.  I've already managed to pick up the Summer 2014 collection items that I had on my list (Tom Ford, Chanel), I've just bought a lot of Burberry cosmetics, and we've just concluded Chic Week. I'm not wanting for much!

That said, there are a few things that I've gotten to sample lately and am thinking about purchasing in the future.

1. Jo Malone Peony and Blush Suede Cologne ($60/1 oz)

I received a number of Jo Malone samples and fell in love with this scent. It reminds me of some of the notes from Tom Ford Santal Blush, which I desperately want to purchase.

2. Trish McEvoy Beauty Booster Advanced Repair Retinol Eye Cream ($125)

3. Trish McEvoy Beauty Booster Eye Serum ($98)

I had the pleasure of meeting one of the brand ambassadors this weekend and having this duo of products demonstrated on me.  I loved the way that they looked, and really appreciated that the brand ambassador didn't try to convince me to try another eye cream- rather, he explained how it would work well with these products. Consider me sold, probably at the next Nordstrom event.

4.  Carven Le Parfum ($84/1.7oz| $25/rollerball)

I received a deluxe mini of this perfume at a Neiman Marcus event recently and find it lovely. It's a delicate floral with a sandalwood base. (I'm really into sandalwood lately!) It's also not a perfume I'd heard of before, so it makes me hopeful that it's fairly unique.

5. Chantecaille Lip Chic- Wild Rose ($35)

I got a chance to see this in person and wish I would've picked it up at the time. It's lovely.

That's it for this week.  What's on your list lately?

Chanel Le Vernis 623 Mirabella- Collection Reflets d'Ete de Chanel Summer 2014

I'm working my way through the 5 fabulous Chanel Les Vernis shades from the brand-new Collection Reflets d'Ete de Chanel Summer 2014.  This collection is tentatively scheduled for release around 1 May, but some stores appear to be blowing the release date and putting it out as soon as they receive it.  I purchased mine at Neiman Marcus, but I've also read reports of it being in-store at Saks as well.

I'll be honest. Normally, Le Vernis #623 Mirabella would've been a pass because I rarely wear orange polish, even on my toes. However, the lack of many new Les Vernis shades lately caused me to go all-in for the entire collection.  I'm so glad that I bought it.

Mirabella can best be described as the juciest tangerine that you've ever eaten. It looks bold yet chic against my fair skin. I can see myself using this as a pedicure shade all summer (I don't think I'm bold enough to try it in my conservative office).

The best part about Mirabella is the formula.  It's like the bold shades we expect from Le Vernis during the summer snuck off and had a hot, steamy fling with a gel polish- and this collection is the result! It's almost a one-coater, and is naturally glossy.  It dries quickly and is essentially awesome.  Anything you could want from Mirabella it has.

Unfortunately, I've passed on most of the saturated Chanel oranges in the past, so I can't compare it, for example, to Holiday.

Out of all of these, Butter London Jaffa is the closest color. However, the formula and pigmentation cannot even be compared.

Burberry Sheer Eye Shadow- No 22 Pale Barley

Today I have one of the HG items for most Burberry collectors: Sheer Eye Shadow #22, Pale Barley. Just a warning, this is picture heavy.

Pale Barley is a lovely neutral with duochrome characteristics. Volumes have already been written about this shade, so I'll let you discover this shade with your eyes rather than my words.

I find wear time of Pale Barley to be on-par with the other Burberry Sheer eyeshadows- a full work day with primer. I don't see much of the duochrome effect on my lids, but I tend to blend this out.  I find this shade to be slightly too light to be worn alone as a lid color but it's perfect with Almond and Midnight Brown.

Now, on to the swatches.

Outside, with flash:

Outside, no flash:

Inside, with flash:

Inside, without flash:

And I've saved the best for last- in the direct sunshine:

I don't have any comparison shots of Pale Barley, but don't worry- it will be appearing in some of the other comparison shots later this month.  It's a no-brainer that this is on every Burberry lover's list.