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Elizabeth Arden Summer 2012 Collection

 Blush, Bronzers, Brushes and Tools, Eyeliner, Lipstick  6 Responses »
May 052012
 

Elizabeth Arden Rose Aurora Spring/Summer 2012 Collection is a blend of bronzes and rose tones that looks beautifully gift-able (as Mother’s Day approaches, this may solve your shopping dilemma). This color story is a modern twist on the original 1950′s collection designed by Elizabeth Arden herself, with soft rose gold packaging. I loved the originality and beauty of this summer-lovely packaging–it evokes art nouveau in my mind. The colors are a built around accentuated eyes, a soft shimmery lip and glowing skin.

The Pure Finish Bronze Powder comes in three colors ($38 each/0.30 oz.))–Soft Radiance, Warm Radiance, and Deep Radiance. These have a soft, shimmering finish. All three tend to run warm, consistent with the Rose Gold theme of the collection. These bronzers include Zin’cite, an ingredient said to energize and protect skin cells, together with green tea, white tea and minerals that provide antioxidant protection.

For applying these, I found that a large soft brush (including Elizabeth Arden’s own ($22, pictured below) worked perfectly. These bronzers are well pigmented, so put that kabuki away! You do want to chose the right color for your skin tone–going too light or too dark won’t be as flattering as it might be.

Soft Radiance was the right choice for my warm-toned fair skin (NC15/Chanel Cameo/Ivoire). By my estimate, I would suggest those with NC30-40 to go with Warm Radiance, and deeper tones with Deep Radiance. These have a fairly large amount of product for the price point (the pans are fairly large), and with the good pigmentation one should last quite a while.

Here are swatches, including the Honey Ceramide Cream blush ($24), a very natural deep warm rose tone:

Here’s Honey blush:

The collection includes a rose gold shimmering highlighting powder, the Pure FInish Highlighter in Rose Illumination ($34), which delivers very high shine. This pictures shows the new Elizabeth Arden All Over Face Powder Brush ($22):

A close of the shimmering powder–those who wear this will want a very reflective glow, keeping the application to the upper cheeks, and perhaps a touch to the brow bone. Like the bronzers, the highlighter includes Zin’cite, green tea, white tea and minerals.

My favorite piece of the collection was the Rose Aurora Ceramide Ultra Lipstick ($22.50). I loved the light, wearable rose with the rose gold shimmer.

The collection includes two liquid liners with felt tip applicators–these Elizabeth Arden Liquid Eyeliners come in both Black and Brown ($18 each).

You can see the tips of these liners are nicely defined:

Here are swatches of these items:

Elizabeth Arden sent a sample of a new fragrance, Elizabeth Arden Green Tea Cherry Blossom ($29/1.7 fl. oz. and $39/3.3 fl. oz., Honey Drops Cream is $29.50 for 8.4 oz.).

This scent is an extremely pleasant floral mix, well-named as it does have a lovely cherry blossom scent. Really, it evoked the beauty cherry trees that I remember from my East Coast childhood. This is tempered with a light green tea undertone..

Because the packaging is so lovely, I could easily see these appreciated as gifts for several women that I know in my life. This time of year seems to be a particularly heavy gift-shopping time for me–teachers, principals, coaches, Mother’s Day (which seems to include my many “mother-like” mentors), and birthdays. Depending on your recipient, I can imagine many would appreciate the beauty and usefulness of any one (or more) of these items in this collection.

The Elizabeth Arden Rose Gold Collection was sent to Cafe Makeup without charge or consideration for review.

 

Burberry Sheer Summer Glow Review

 Bronzers, Burberry  24 Responses »
May 042012
 

Burberry Beauty has a limited edition Iconic Nudes, which includes the Sheer Summer Glow Natural Highlighting Compact ($50). A combination of two bronzers, a light whisper pink and a pearly highlighter shade, this bronzer adds a soft layer of natural blush-bronzer to those with lighter skin tones.

In sun:

In shade, the pearly texture of the powder can be seen:

Here are swatches both blended (on the left), and of the individual colors on the right:

Burberry’s standard line of bronzers includes a variety for a range of skin tones. This palette appears to be desgined for lighter skin tones–perhaps NC 35 and higher. The colors are so soft and delicate that it’s difficult to apply too much.

I applied the left (bronzer) side of the palette mixed, using a kabuki brush (the Edward Bess Luxury Face Brush) on the contour area of the cheek, and touching it on the forehead, bridge of nose and chin.  I used the hightlighter/blush (the right side) on the top of my cheek. I then used the highlighter color applied lightly just under my brows for a tiny highlight there.

The colors are very soft and natural, and should accommodate both warm and cool skin tones. This is absolutely gorgeous, lovingly made, and embellished with the iconic Burberry check. Absolutely amazing, versatile palette for a natural, glowing look.

Chanel Summer 2012: Sable Beige and Sable Rose Bronzers

 Bronzers, Chanel  11 Responses »
Apr 302012
 

Chanel Summer 2012 brings us two new limited edition bronzers– the lighter Sable Blonde (#907) and the deeper pink-bronze Sable Rose (#917) ($60 each). Both of these seem to be geared toward lighter skin tones, particularly compared to last year’s and certainly compared to Chanel’s standard bronzer line which reaches far toward deeper tones. To place this review in context, my skin tone is roughly NC15/Chanel Cameo, although sometimes it can be slightly deeper. I also find that Sable Blonde and Sable Rose. There is a warm gold sheen with these that, if your skin tone is more toward yellow/gold, you will absolutely adore.

First, Sable Blonde adds a slight touch of warmth to my skin tone, this color leans slightly yellow. Like the Joues Contraste blushes, the shimmer is evident in arm swatches but seems to melt into the skin when applied to the cheeks to give a pretty, soft glow:

Second, Sable Rose has a fair amount of rose red mixed with the bronze, and applies overall slightly more bronzier and deeper in tone compared to Sable Blonde:

Although I am pale, I can wear either one easily. Sable Beige looks very natural, a good everyday color. Sable Rose is still well within my comfort zone–it’s rosier tones mean that I don’t have to apply a blush.

Instead, I get a good warm healthy bronze with a touch of rose color.

Another:

Overall, I agree with Sabrina at The Beauty Look Book (review here, comparison swatches here) that these are both excellent bronzers. They are on the pale side, so those with lighter skin tones will find these highly wearable. If you have deeper skin tones, please try these out first (especially the lighter Sable Beige). The effect is much more subtle than last year’s stronger bronze tones.

Speaking from the sidelines, it appears as though both Chanel and Dior are releasing subtle bronzers this summer. I do love a good bronzer, so my heart was pre-set to love these. If you are more conservative, you will want to get one of these if:

  • You like a shimmery glow (not matte)
  • You want a subtle look
  • Your skin tone is light
  • You want a very finely-milled, good quality powder and don’t mind the $60 price point.

I’ll soon be reviewing a few more summer bronzers, including Guerlain’s Terracotta Sun Blondes #4, which may suit your needs better if you a looking for a deeper shimmery glow and you have a lighter skin tone.

MAC Extra Dimension Highlighters: Swatch & Comparisons

 Bronzers, Highlighter, MAC  6 Responses »
Apr 042012
 

I was curious to see whether MAC Extra Dimension Highlighters ($29 each) compared with Estee Lauder’s gelee formula highlighters.  I agree with Temptalia’s assessment that these are similar. I’ll go further- I found these extremely similar. The Estee Lauder versions sold out so quickly, that I thought it useful to post some comparisons. If you missed Estee Lauder’s, you might want to grab MAC’s instead.

Unfortunately, the similarity appears to include  fragility. As you can see from these pictures, my MAC Glorify arrived broken. I also just discovered, with much heartbreak, that my Estee Lauder Tom Pecheux Pure Color Night Higlighter (reviewed here), is now pulverized into tiny bits. I’ve never traveled with it and it’s been in a box for several months. Fortunately, my MAC Glorify is being replaced by the store from which it was purchased. Sadly, the Estee has been sold out for so long that I am not even going to try to track down any replacement. My other Estee Lauder highlighters seem strong, both Modern Mercury and Topaz Chameleon seem like they are in good shape.

Saddest photograph ever.

Here are the MAC Extra Dimension highlighters, comparisons with Estee’s are below. For the record, MAC’s are $29 for 0.31 oz, Estee’s run $40 for 0.19 oz. in a mirrored compact.

First, Whisper of Gilt, which appears to be the best color for a pale skin tone. It has a slightly cool gold color.

Second, MAC Superb, with a warm peachy tone:

Third, MAC Glorify, which gives a golden bronze effect:

And here are the comparisons with MAC Whisper of Gilt with the Estee Lauder Pure Color Night Highlighter, which have obvious differences although both are light in tone. Also, you can see a similarity between MAC Superb and Estee Lauder Modern Mercury (reviewed here).  Finally, there is MAC Glorify which looks very similar to the Estee Lauder Topaz Chameleon:

 

Trend Watch: The Contoured Cheek

 Bronzers, Chanel, Highlighter, Hourglass, NARS  5 Responses »
Oct 102011
 

This Fall, I’ve begun to notice a heavily contoured cheek used on the runway and in magazines.  For example, look at this look from last week’s Paris runway show of Louis Vuitton Spring Summer 2012:

I noticed another heavily contoured look in this feature from the October ’11 Vogue in this androgynous take on the trend:

I was tempted to try this look, because I love nude blushes, light bronzers and highlighters and have several in my stash.  However, I did not want to apply the product so heavily and dramatically because the heavy application that you see in these examples seem best suited for a runway or fashion studio.  Some ways that I played with the look include using a deeper foundation shade on the lower cheek, and a subtle highlighter on the upper cheek.  This is the most subtle version of the contoured cheek that I can create.

Another is to use a deep blush and highlighter combination, such as the Chanel Soho blush/ highlighter that was released last Fall (limited edition)

If you prefer a cream version of the colors in the Chanel Soho palette, Nars Multiples in Maui and Luxor is a good substitute (swatches below).  I bought the Nars multiples as mini’s in this Sweet Disposition set.
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A third way is a highlighter/combination, including this Hourglass Illume Creme-to-Powder Bronzer Duo in Bronze Light ($40), which is sold at Sephora.  On the top of the compact, there is a champagne gold sheer highlighter.  On the bottom, the compact holds a warm-toned cream bronzer that runs to a medium-toned depth.  The top mirror keeps the compact sleek when stored, but can be swiveled up so that the large mirror can be used.
This Hourglass duo can be worn with the two tones applied separately to create a defined, contoured cheek.
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Alternatively, I can wear the bronzer more traditionally with the highlighter all over the cheek and on the brow bone. The Hourglass Bronzer duo holds one of the deepest bronzers that I can get away with, and I have to apply it sheerly to get it to work.  If you have a medium warm skin tone, you can be more liberal with the use of this bronzer. Those with cooler skin tones may find this duo is too warm.
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I also own Soleil Tan de Chanel Bronzing Makeup Base ($48) (swatched below).  The Hourglass bronzer is a traditional creamy texture that dries down to a powder on the skin and can be beautifully sheered out.  Chanel’s cream bronzer feels drier in the tub, and feels as though it contains some silicon.  Chanel’s is lighter in tone than the Hourglass.  The Chanel tub is a rather enormous 1.0 ounce;  the Hourglass duo holds .39 ounces of product in total (both bronzer and highlighter).
Here is a comparison of Nars Multiples in Luxor and Maui, the two shades from the Hourglass Illume Bronze Light compact, and a combination that I created the Soleil Tan de Chanel Bronzing Makeup Base and Edward Bess All Over Seduction in Sunlight ($38) (reviewed here).
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 Have you played with a contoured cheek?  What are your thoughts?
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