tom ford Archives - Page 5 of 8 - Reviews and Other Stuff

tom ford

Chanel Beauty New Arrivals Fall 2018

September 28, 2018 / FASHION & BEAUTY / 0 comments

Hi All! The latest releases in Chanel Beauty this Fall are definitely swoon-worthy. There are lots of beautiful bold and deep colors that will make your hearts skip gazillion beats at once. LOL. This Fall, Chanel is going all “matte” with their products, like matte eyeshadows, matte lipsticks, velvety matte lip powders, and they even added some new shades to one of my favorite matte lipsticks ever – the Rouge Allure Velvet, and don’t get me started on the newest Rouge Allure Velvet Extreme. Oh my, it’s hard to handle all these beautiful Chanel newness. But yeah, I will be reviewing some new shades of the Rouge Allure Velvet and Velvet Extreme pretty soon. So watch out for it here on the blog.

For today’s post, let’s talk about some Chanel Beauty Fall releases in the lips, nails, and eye category. As I’ve said before, they’re mostly mattes, and even their packagings are mattes! Because of that, they feel really cozy to the touch once you get your hands on them. Kudos to Chanel for being so stylistic in their products. You know me, I love mattes, even more so than glitters, and that’s because, for some reason, I just feel like I look better in mattes. My features are a bit exaggerated, so I don’t need a bunch of shimmers to emphasize my look. Mattes give me that sort of “lived in” look that I like.

Chanel had released a new matte quad eyeshadow compact (Les 4 Ombres), three new matte shades of their stylo cream eyeshadows, new shades of Rouge Allure Ink, the newest Jumbo Mat Lip Crayon, and two new Le Vernis shades in a velvety texture, among other things.

Since I planned to go dark this Fall and all throughout Winter, (LOL, don’t ask me why, I just kinda feel like it) I basically picked up all the dark colors from this latest Chanel Beauty release. I’ve never been able to completely pull off or rock deep and dark colors before, so now is my chance. Ha! Black boots, black denims, black sweaters, black coats, and dark vampy lips! Gurl, I’m just waiting for the weather to turn gloom, and I’ll be all Goth (or Emo) LOL.

Les 4 Ombres Multi-Effect Quadra Eyeshadow in 308 Clair Obscur ($61) – I wasn’t quite sure what to expect from this quad at first. My first impression of this seems to be that it could look like any other average mix of dupable matte eyeshadow shades. But boy I was wrong. Once applied and swatched on my skin, I noticed that the colors are well-pigmented and in a way sort of unique. Also, all four matte shades complement each other. They aren’t so creamy but they’re very easy to blend, and they last the whole day on me without smudging. The closest dupe for this quad would probably be the Urban Decay Naked (swatched HERE) in terms of texture and color range, however, this Chanel Clair Obscur has one shade that’s kinda greige, which makes it look unique and timely. For me, this particular quad is a perfect everyday eyeshadow that can truly emphasize dark brown eyes.

Le Rouge Crayon De Couleur Mat Jumbo Longwear Mat Lip Crayon in 267 Impulsion ($37) – I’m super impressed with the pigment and lasting power of this twist-up crayon-style retractable matte lipstick. Apart from being easy and accurate to apply (though no sharpener, but not that necessary), this goes on smoothly on the lips. Its color saturation and lasting power are way better than most lipsticks since this is so staining and can last the whole day. The shade impulsion is a gorgeous true deep red that you can’t help but stare at. I definitely recommend this to all of you, and now I feel like I need more of this lip crayon in several different colors.

Stylo Ombre et Contour Shadow Liner Khol in Contour Clair and Contour Graphique ($34) – These are pen/crayon-style creamy matte eyeshadow/liner with an easy retractable twist-up application. These don’t have any sharpener attached to the other end, but it’s not really an issue. The formula is really smooth and easy to apply for a contoured eye makeup look. They last all day for me without creasing or smudging and they set quite well. The three matte colors are easy to layer, but I decided to skip on the black shade (Contour Sombre) because that one seems too harsh for me. Instead, I opted for the grayish brown and the deep dark indigo blue for that dramatic eye look. I highly recommend these if you’re feeling the matte smoky eye glam this Fall.

Rouge Allure Ink in 174 Melancholia ($37) – I’ve always loved the shades of Chanel Rouge Allure Ink (more shades HERE) even though some of the shades can be a bit patchy when applied. However, once they’re set on the lips, they can be long lasting and not as drying. I find the pigments of this particular matte liquid lip color to be really bold and vivid, and so with the newest additional colors this Fall. I fell in love with the limited-edition shade called Melancholia. This shade’s formulation seems to be even better than the previous ones, although I’m not quite sure because it may be that the darker shades of the Rouge Allure Ink are just not as patchy as the lighter ones. But, it does feel like this season’s formula has improved a bit. This color is deep berry and it feels like a lip stain. Although I don’t coat my lips fully with this, I usually apply a single stroke of color at the center of my lips and smudge it all the way to the corners, to create an ombre lip effect. I love this commanding and dramatic color so much, it’s the perfect shade for light to medium and deep skin tones this Fall.

Le Vernis Velvet Nail Colour in 638 Profondeur ($28) – I was never really into matte-effect nail polishes, even though I think I may have tried some suede-textured nail colors in the past. I usually like my nails super glossy, but ever since trying this velvet nail colours from Chanel, I felt like I don’t really mind rocking a velvety matte nail color, especially this season. This new Le Vernis (more colors HERE) in velvet texture is just beyond me. You just have to use a base coat then apply two coats of this nail polish (forget about the top coat) and voila! You got beautiful vampy velvety matte nail color that sets immediately when applied. Nails look uniquely polished with shades that are perfect for Fall. The color Profondeur is a velvet wine-red that may look like coagulated blood at first, LOL, but in all honesty, it’s just so different and so gorgeous.

Have you tried these already? What are your Chanel Beauty faves this Fall? Stay tuned for more Chanel new releases here on the blog.

These Chanel Beauty new releases for Fall are currently available at Nordstrom, Saks Fifth Avenue, Neiman Marcus, Harrods, and Macy’s

Tom Ford Nail Lacquer Review & Swatches

September 5, 2018 / FASHION & BEAUTY / 0 comments

Today’s review, we’ll talk about my favorite nail colors from this posh brand.

The Tom Ford Nail Lacquers don’t seem to have a lot of color lineup to choose from, and in contrast to Chanel or Dior, Tom Ford doesn’t seem to release many colors every season, or none at all. In total, there are about 11 shades of the Tom Ford Nail Lacquers available (as of the moment), and though limited in color range, you will still find the perfect true red nail color, a beautiful vamp, a nice neutral cream shade, and the prettiest pink. The quality of these nail lacquers and the beauty of the packaging with the gorgeous sleek tube are just drool-worthy. They’re definitely the most beautiful nail polish I’ve ever owned, just staring at them will really make your heart skip a beat, LOL. Formula-wise, I find that I always need to apply two coats on my nails in order to get a good color payoff, and the first application always seems to be a bit patchy, but once you apply the second coat, then you’ll get true vivid rich colors that will last for two weeks without almost any chipping. I do think that the patchiness of the first application is due to the brush applicator which I think could be improved because it’s a little too thin or too skinny and a little too long for my taste. I would have loved it to be like Dior’s or Essie’s Gel Couture brush that is wide and thick which applies nail colors quickly and easily. But anyway, that’s just a minor thing, because once you apply any of these nail polishes, you’re definitely going to be amazed at how nice, glossy, and beautiful your hands and fingers look especially if you use any of the darker shades.

Mink Brule – This is probably the best neutral I could find out of all the TF nail lacquers, and I like that this fits my complexion well without making my skin look too dark or too pale. On me, this looks like a medium beige creamy nude.

Smoke Red – This is a blue-toned red that delivers super rich pigment and one that my skin can pull off because it’s a deep rich red and not one that is too bright or tinged with orange or coral.

Bitter Bitch – Bought this because of the name, I must admit, and it still cracks me up whenever I see this particular nail polish. I think this color has an attitude, LOL, it’s like eating chocolate and having it all over your nails while not giving a care, hmmm!

Bordeaux Lust – As always, I’m a big fan of vampy or red-wine nails, so a nice blood-red color from Tom Ford like this is a perfect must-have for me. Just can’t go wrong with this shade.

Plum Noir– A surprisingly beautiful dark purple-violet color that may look vampy in the shade, but can also look like a beautiful glossy berry-wine under the sun. This is a dramatic beautiful color that is perfect for Fall or Winter and the best berry-violet-purple nail polish I’ve ever tried.

Bottom line, lots of love for these gorgeous nails lacquers. I may not like their brush applicators and their sort of patchy application at first, or the fact that there’s not a lot of shades to choose from, especially if you’re looking for more neutral colors, but I do love how long-wearing the formula of these nails colors are, and the fact that they don’t chip as much compared to most nail polishes out there. They also don’t have a very strong pungent scent and they set in pretty well, though you will still need a fast drying top coat to seal the colors in quickly. These nail lacquers are pricey but its good to have a few of them in the colors that you really like.

Are you a Tom Ford Nail Lacquer fan?

These Tom Ford Nail Colors are currently available at Nordstrom, Saks Fifth Avenue, and Net-A-Porter

Favorite Body Oils

August 17, 2018 / FASHION & BEAUTY / 0 comments

Hey All! One of my latest skincare obsessions are the dry body oils. I’ve been crazy about them that I pretty much hoarded every single body oils I could find, LOL. I tested several and a lot of them are really good, but I do have some personal favorites that we will be talking about today.

A lot of these dry body oils are great for the summer and are also perfect for the coming Fall and Winter. They’re not the typical oils you commonly associate with massage oils or some other oils that are wet, shiny, greasy, and sits on top of the skin. Dry body oils are different, they’re very lightweight, quick-absorbing, non-greasy, and they moisturize the skin very well, even better than most body lotions. Some of them can be also used as hair oils. They’re basically ideal for those who cannot stand the feeling of using body creams and lotions on their skin. Speaking of body creams, check out a review my favorite body creams, lotions, and body butters HERE.

Back to dry body oils, they’re relatively a new trend though they’ve been out for quite some time. A lot of them have been popping out lately in several different packaging and ingredients, and they’ve been well-received by the general public. So for this review, let’s take a closer look at the dry body oils I absolutely adored.

With Shimmers

Darphin Soleil Plaisir Sultry Shimmering Oil (1.7 oz: $55.00) – This body oil gives a nice subtle shimmer that makes your skin glow. It has a soothing floral scent like a rose and something herb-like. The kind that makes you imagine you’re in a spa. This oil sets well on the skin and it hydrates well. It’s not greasy and it’s not sticky. The packaging is small enough to fit inside a purse, but for its price, it’s a little too small. However, you don’t really need to use a lot.

Tom Ford Soleil Blanc Shimmering Body Oil (3.4 oz: $100) – What can I say? this is one sexy and sultry body oil. I love the shimmers of this and it’s really hard not to notice it. It makes the skin glow and sparkle in a gorgeous way. The formula doesn’t feel sticky, it’s quick absorbing, and it’s also not greasy. The scent is alluring like a warm beachy tropical fragrance. On top of that, this body oil’s bottle looks so luxurious and so pretty, you can’t help but stare at it all the time. There is also the Rose Gold version/shade of this which has been recently released, and I can’t wait to try it.

Sol De Janeiro Glow Oil in Ipanema Sunset (2.5 oz: $35) – This body oil will definitely give you that extreme glow and sheen, and it has a nice scent that lingers for several hours up to the next day. The scent is similar to the Bum Bum Cream, only it’s a lot stronger and kinda pungent at first. I love this body oil for its massive amounts of micro shimmers, but it can feel a bit sticky and thick if you use a lot, and it may transfer and stain the clothes as well. However, if you apply just enough product on the skin, then this oil can moisturize and sinks in the skin quite well. Apart from the pungent scent, I think the packaging could be improved by using a pump so that it’ll be easier to control the amount of product dispensed from the tube.

Without Shimmers

Clarins Sunscreen Care Oil Spray SPF 30 for Skin & Hair (5 oz: $36) – I love this oil especially when I spend a lot of time outdoors and whenever I don’t feel like wearing the usual sunscreens or even the cream ones that tend to get sticky on my skin. This is one of the few body oils with added SPF that doesn’t feel sticky and greasy on the skin even after hours of staying under the sun. There’s not a lot of this type of body oil formulation nowadays, and this one sets on the skin immediately and it can also be used for the hair. It also smells amazing. I have a lot of love for this body oil and this is my fourth bottle already since last Summer.

Fresh. Fresh LifeBody Oil (3.3 oz: $48) – This oil is probably the thickest and warmest oil of all the body oils mentioned in this review. This also doesn’t feel so “dry”, but a bit sticky and it takes a while for it to set on the skin. This has a nice sweet lemon scent that moisturizes the skin but its formula is a little too moisturizing for this Summer. This is more like a made-for-Winter type of body oil. Additionally, this has a nice beautiful heavy glass packaging that looks sleek and simply pretty, especially the marbleized cap.

Clarins Tonic Body Treatment Oil (3.4 oz: $64) – This is the body oil my preggo friends swear by. They said this basically tones the skin and reduces the appearance of stretch marks. You’re supposed to apply this while in the shower and then rinse thereafter, but with me, I apply this right after showering while my skin is still damp and this oil feels so soothing and relaxing since it smells like lavender. I haven’t noticed any improvement on my stretch marks yet, but I did notice the firming and toning effect on my skin, which is amazing.

Kiehl’s Creme de Corps Nourishing Dry Body Oil (2.5-5.9 oz: $17.50-$34) – This has got to be one of the best-scented body oils I’ve ever tried. It has vanilla and something else I cannot quite discern, but it’s good. The performance of this body oil is just perfect, from its non-sticky, non-greasy, and lightweight formulation, to its hydrating ability, I cannot say anything off about this. I love its easy-to-apply packaging, it’s quick-absorbing texture, and I can only wish that it comes in a shimmery formula as well.

Nars Monoi Body Glow II (2.5 oz: $59) – I was so curious about this body oil before trying it, and when I finally did, I felt like I didn’t really like its strong gardenia/jasmine-like scent. However, after a few hours of using it, I seem to like its drydown, which became something like a light floral tone that stays on the skin and to the clothes even up to the next day. The oil itself doesn’t feel greasy or sticky and it moisturizes my skin excellently. Also, its packaging looks simple yet unique and beautiful.

Moroccanoil Dry Body Oil (1.7 oz-3.4 oz: $29-$48) – This body oil is as good as Kiehl’s and it has argan, avocado, and olive oil. The scent is kinda fruity and floral and this pretty much sinks into the skin immediately. It’s a very good body oil that doesn’t feel heavy, sticky, or too shiny. Instead, this has a nice silky texture that leaves skin feeling soft and hydrated throughout the day.

Caudalie Divine Oil (3.3 oz: $49) – This is another great body oil with grape, sesame, hibiscus, and argan oil, plus antioxidants. I love its floral fruity and woody fragrance. The bottle of this feels really robust and it has a sprayer that throws a very fine mist of oil, perfect for a more controlled application. I love that this is fast-absorbing, light, non-greasy, as well as non-sticky. This is even great for the hair.

Overall, I love dry body oils. They’re just so easy and so quick to use. I love that they set fast into the skin and that unlike most body lotions, I no longer have to worry if they’ll transfer to my clothes, or whether they’d feel sticky, greasy, or too warm. If I have to choose my top 3 of all the oils reviewed here, it would be first – the Tom Ford Soleil Blanc Shimmering Body Oil, second- the Clarins Tonic Body Treatment Oil and the Sunscreen Care Oil SPF 30, and third would be the Kiehl’s Creme de Corps Dry Body Oil or the Caudalie or the Moroccan body oil.

What’s your fave dry body oil?