NOTD: Julep Nadia

Today's NOTD is a beautiful yellow shimmer from Julep.  Nadia was released late summer (July or August, if my memory serves), but I think it's appropriate year-round.

Swatches are two coats, no top coat.

Sunday Dreaming

I'll be totally honest about the lack of Sunday Dreaming posts the last few weeks.  I've hit a point of harmony with my makeup collection.  There's really very little that I'm yearning for, and I'm almost over-saturated. However, there are a few items in general that I'm looking at.  Much like the earliest iterations of this feature, these aren't all beauty items.

1. Tom Ford Private Blend Perfume- Santal Blush ($210/50ml)

Image via Nordstrom.com

After agonizing over this perfume for months, I'm less than a week from finally purchasing my first bottle of a Tom Ford Private Blend Fragrance. There's a crazy GWP at my local Nordstrom for purchasing next Saturday worth about $84 in fragrance.  There's the type of value that makes me finally take the plunge.

2. rms Beauty Living Luminizer ($38)

Photo via rms Beauty

I'm still loving my rms Beauty Raw Coconut Cream, and I became interested in other items from the brand while I was doing research prior to that purchase. This seems to be one of the other highly-rated products from the brand, and I'm always looking to learn how to use items like luminizer. The only trick is watching the weather forecast to avoid melting issues...

3. Michael Michael Kors Large Hamilton in Raspberry Saffiano Leather ($358)

Photo via Lyst.com

After agonizing over my initial Hamilton purchase for years, I've doubled my collection in less than a year.  My Optic White Hamilton is going to be my trusty companion all summer long- what's chicer than a structured white bag? When I was purchasing my Optic White Hamilton, I was nearly detoured when I spotted this stunner.  Admittedly, I'm on a giant pink kick at the current time- clothes, accessories, and beauty. This handbag is a cool-toned, bright pink that just looks stunning for summer. It's one of two bags I'm currently contemplating for my next purchase- which will likely be sooner than I'd like!

4. Kate Spade New York "For the Birds" Jewelry ($48-88 each)

All photos via Kate Spade New York

This set is both adorable and perfectly suited for summer!  Kate Spade makes the cutest jewelry, and this set caught my eye recently.  I'm more likely to buy the studs since most of the bangles are too small for my huge wrists.


5. Kate Spade New York Amalfi Mosaic Statement Necklace ($348)

Photo via Kate Spade New York

This is truly an aspirational item.  I'm more likely to seek out a necklace that's of similar inspiration rather than this piece. I love the style, as well as the idea.  I'm on the hunt for a much more budget-friendly version.

6. Prescription Sunglasses

Frame $15.95, Lenses $0-79, Tint $4.95

Stainless steel aviators, $25.95, lenses up to $79, Tint $4.95

One of the up/downsides of switching from contacts to glasses is that I can't buy handfuls of designer sunglasses anymore. Instead, I invest in prescription sunglasses. Since I'm not doing a lot of detailed reading or using a computer, online labs such as Zenni Optical work well for me. I have two pairs of sunglasses that I love from last summer. I need to give the following disclaimer: current, valid prescription from a optometrist is required. There are frames that mimic high-end favorites like the two above.

That's it for this week!

Chantecaille Lip Chic- Wild Rose

First of all, Happy Mothers Day to all of my US readers who are mothers.  I had a shock at the grocery store on Friday when a group of children wished me Happy Mothers Day. I nearly asked "are you talking to me ?!?"  but realized they were attempting to be sweet. Just another reminder that I'm older than I feel.

All of this has a connection with today's post, the incredible Chantecaille Lip Chic in Wild Rose.  My own mother has a soft spot for roses, and I was raised at a home with an enormous rose garden that was my mother's pride and joy.  All summer, every summer our home was constantly filled with bouquets from our back yard.  It's not a leap that any time I hear the word rose, I immediately think of my mother.  To this day, I tend to buy her rose-scented gifts.

Chantecaille Lip Chic in Wild Rose came onto my radar when I attended an event last month at Neiman Marcus named Project Beauty. I finally had the opportunity to see this shade in action and added it to the mental wish list.  I've been testing this for close to a month, and my only regret is that I haven't tried other Chantecaille products earlier.  And that I may have "started something new" since I'm probably going to pick up future releases!

Since this is my first Chantecaille Lip Chic review, I'll take a moment to talk stats and packaging.  Chantecaille Lip Chics contain 2g/0.07oz of product and retail for $35.  I have local Chantecaille counters at Nieman Marcus and Bloomingdales, but products are also available online at Nordstrom, Net-a-Porter, Barney's New York, Saks Fifth Avenue, Bergdorf Goodman, Space NK, and the brand's website.  The sleek tube is far smaller than I was expecting, and smaller than the comparable Chanel Rouge Coco Shine.

Chantecaille's website describes the Lip Chic formula as "the perfect combination of gloss and lipstick."  The product description reads as follows:

"This exceptionally comfortable formula is easy to apply in an even finish that is shiny but never sticky. Lip Chic leaves lips fuller and decidedly more youthful in appearance, but never irritated.

• Combines the high shine and plumping effects of a gloss with the rich, even coverage of a lipstick
• Goes on with an incredibly soft, lightweight texture as it helps to smooth and firm the lips"

I'll be honest- I didn't notice any plumping- which is just fine by me since I detest tingling products.

Wild Rose is a LE shade from the Spring 2014 collection, but luckily it's still readily available.  It's described as "sheer and sophisticated fuchsia" by Barneys.  In the tube, it appears to be a bold strawberry red/pink hybrid. However, these are sheer products, so it's not as vibrant on the lips.

I'm going to break with my normal pattern and show this in action before I show swatches. I think it'll be clear why this is probably my favorite new release for Spring 2014:

It's a stunning, wearable shade that looks lovely on my pigmented lips.

Let me show a few swatches, as well as the comparison that I thought might be a dupe. Sadly, it's not.

In the sun (!):

Outside, not in direct sun:

Outside, with flash:

I think it's clear why my mind immediately went to Chanel's Rouge Coco Shine as a comparison.  This is the second year in a row that I've fallen for a sheer, pigmented pink- so I thought they might be dupes.  The shade that came to mind is one of my favorite lipsticks of all time- the LE Pygmalion from Summer 2013, which was my main shade last summer.

I happen to own a backup of Pygmalion- that's how much of a perfect shade it is for me.  It's of the same general genre (sheer, shiny, pigmented pink lipsticks) but Pygmalion is far redder than Wild Rose. I love this photo because it's also in the sun, which has been rare the past few months. There's something about swatches plus white puffy clouds that makes a photo look better, right?

Since I purchased Wild Rose, it's been either in my purse or on my lips every single day. I highly recommend it- it lasts 3-4 hours and fades gracefully.

I love Wild Rose so much that I'm debating whether I should pick up a backup or not.  I tend not to pick up backups simply because of the size of my lipstick stash.  That's how much I love this shade. 

NOTD: Deborah Lippmann Shoshana

Today's NOTD is part of a larger Deborah Lippmann set.  Shoshana is one of four polishes from the "Girls" set.

I don't have HBO, I've never seen the show, and this is the only polish I have from the set (thank you ebay) since it was the only one that caught my eye.


Shoshana is a saturated electric lilac creme with mini glitter that allow it to shimmer.  2 coats, no top coat.

Lancome L'Absolu Rouge La Base

Normally, I tend to blog about items that I've fallen in love with. Unfortunately, this won't be one of those reviews.

I was absolutely over the moon to discover Lancome's L'Absolu Rouge La Base on the 50% off table at the Lancome outlet last month.  Here was a current product that retails for $30 that I was able to snag for the thrifty price of $12.25 plus tax.  Score of the century, right?

Wrong.

I've been playing around with La Base ever since and feel that it's one of the most underwhelming products I've ever tried. It didn't harm me, but I can't figure out a single benefit from the product.

First, I tried it as a primer. Call something La Base and I'll use it as a primer.  My lipstick (I tested multiple brands and formulas) actually wore quicker. I give it an F as a primer.

I take extra points off for the awful smell. I can't identify it, but hate it in the tube and loathe it on my lips. It's not pleasant.

Then, I tried it as a lip balm. Surely if it's a failure as a primer then it's a great balm, right?  Wrong once again. It has no hydrating properties and requires near-constant application. With every application comes the awful scent.

Simply because I spent $12.25 on it, I'll continue to experiment. I'm so glad that I didn't spend $30 on this.

Have any of you tried L'Absolu Rouge La Base? Did you get it to work for you? How?

I really hate being harsh on a product, so I do wonder if I'm just not using it properly. As it stands, there are $1.99 chapsticks that do more for your lips.  I do give high marks for the posh packaging though...

NOTD: Julep Amity

It's time to lighten up after all the darker, moodier nails as of late.  Today's NOTD is part of Julep's Celebration Trio released in August 2013: Julep Amity.

Amity is a light, pure silver.  It's metallic but not a foil.  I love it as a palette cleanser.

Clarins Shimmer Oil

The return of late spring and summer heat means that it's around this time that pantyhose are discarded in all but the most ultra-conservative of offices.  For an alabaster beauty such as myself, this means that I need to do some work on my legs so that they don't scare small children.  For me, this routine is two-part: self-tanner and a daily shimmer product to give a soft glow. I was looking for something to replace the now-discontinued Charlotte Ronson A Summer's Kiss that I've been using on my legs.  Clarins is a brand that I haven't explored much, but I've been really impressed by the few products I've tried.

I suspect that Clarins Shimmer Oil ($32/3.3oz) will be one of those love/hate products for most.  I'm honestly not sure how well this will work on a darker skintone.  Temptalia reviewed this rather poorly last summer, reinforcing my suspicions that my ultra-fair complexion is right in the sweet spot for Clarins Shimmer Oil, and my intentions for the product just right.

That said, I have a major problem with the design and material of the bottle.  When I see the lovely 3.3oz glass bottle, I can envision the inevitable catastrophe. Likewise, this is a regular glass bottle with considerable heft. To apply the product, one has to tip the bottle into your hand. That would be easier if the product was thicker- but this is water-like.

That aside, let's talk about what I was looking for and why this product works perfectly for me:

• Adds subtle glow- I'm looking for an enhancement to my skin, not something that screams "I put bronzer on my legs!"
• Not overly glittery- this is primarily for an office environment
• Not very dark- Have I mentioned how pale I am, even with self-tanner?
• Appropriate for the legs- there are plenty of highlighters for the face, but not so many for the legs

 For reference, NARS Body Glow is both too dark and too expensive ($59/4 oz) for my tastes. I like the Charlotte Ronson A Summer's Kiss bronzer, but I stocked up as it exited Sephora.

It's worth noting that this is a real oil and needs to be shaken. Otherwise, this happens:

You've probably noticed that there are a lot of words and not so many photos in this post. This product is extraordinarily difficult to photograph.  It gives a subtle improvement to your skin, but no obvious tint or glitter.  This truly makes your skin look better. It softens the glare of harsh office lighting and gives a soft glow.  It's perfect for a subtle look, but I wouldn't wear it without self-tanner.  This is one of those products I'd throw in with favorites like Guerlain's Meteorites- they just made you look better and put together, but it's hard to point at the product itself.

I purchased my Clarins Shimmer Oil at Nordstrom, but it's also available on the brand's website.  It's marked as a LE for Summer 2014.  I'll be purchasing a second bottle, but probably will be one of the few.

NOTD: Julep Paulette

Today's NOTD is my final selection from Julep's May 2014 collection.  Paulette is a soft orchid with distinct gold undertones.  This is the shade that made me switch boxes in order to secure it.

It's soft and lovely.  Like the others, I am pleasantly surprised by the formula.  This is two coats plus Butter London Hardware.

What I'm Wearing- Perfumes, Spring 2014

It's only been over the past year that I've noticed that my scent preferences shift dramatically with the seasons.  After going through an entire bottle of Dior Addict Eau Delice, with Flash by Jimmy Choo sprinkled in that I noticed a distinct pivot for spring/summer.

Although I'm not a trend-following scent type of girl, I noticed that I'm right on trend, despite myself.  I've been rotating between three main fragrances this spring.  I don't do perfume reviews for a reason, as my nose lacks the sophistication to pick out different notes and accurately describe them.

Spring Love #1: Tom Ford Private Blend Santal Blush ($210/50ml)

Photo via Nordstrom

I don't own a full-sized bottle of this (yet), but I've been enjoying some deluxe samples I received as a GWP at my Nordstrom Beauty Trend Show in March.  This is the only Private Blend fragrance that I'd feel comfortable wearing to a conservative office. It's soft and feminine, but wears like iron.  I require a lot from my fragrances, and this is one of the few that I can still detect 16 hours later. This fragrance manages to be simultaneously soft and complex. If the other Private Blend fragrances are too powerful for you, I highly recommend this offering.

 
Spring Love #2: Jo Malone Peony and Blush Suede Cologne ($60-$115)

Photo via Nordstorm

This purchase is directly attributable to the generosity of a Nordstrom SA. As a part of an order, she threw in a group of Jo Malone fragrance samples. While I enjoyed playing with all of the scents. Peony and Blush Suede stood out to me.  It wasn't a surprise since I have been loving suede fragrances lately.  I think this is lovely, soft, and perfect for spring. I wish it had a little better wear time, but I just throw a sample vial into my makeup bag in the morning and I'm good to go.

Spring Love #3: Balenciaga Rosabotanica ($25-100)

Photo via Nordstrom

This is another example of where sampling works. I got the recent 500pt perk with a deluxe sample of Rosabotanica and fell in love.  I managed to limit myself to just a rollerball during Chic Week, but have been loving roses this spring.  Yes, I know that's right on trend, but really... Rosabotanica just fits my state of mind lately.


What have you been wearing this spring?  Do you rotate your scents?

NOTD: Julep Kam

Today's NOTD is another selection from the current Julep Maven collection.

Kam is a muted sea foam green which is both classy and stands out from a crowd. I've got two coats plus Butter London Hardware on my nails, and found the formula to be above-average.