Current Loves/Wish List

Here are some of the items that I have been getting a ton of use from lately:

Charlotte Tilbury Hot Lips in Miranda May. Full review here, but the bright color has been a staple for me recently.

Natasha Denona 5 Eyeshadow #02 has been my go to formula, as it has the most amazing pigmentation and staying power. Full recap with swatches here. I definitely need to get another of these palettes soon.

By Terry Baume de Rose (review here) has been helping with the hydration issues my lips are having with the 90+ degree weather we are currently experiencing. I am very ready for fall or, at least, some relief from this heat.

Freida Rothman's Indigo Armour Collection. The whole collection is beautiful and I was so excited and very grateful to receive the rectangular ring (shown above) as a gift from my family.

It seems like there are tons of new launches happening in beauty right now. Here are a few I have my eye on:

Anastasia Foundation Stick. I love stick foundations in general and the lower price point of $25 has really piqued my interest in these. They are currently available from Anastasia's website, but I will most likely wait until I can see them in person at Sephora to ensure a good match.

NARS Velvet Lip Glides. These are described as a lipstick and lipgloss hybrid and I am really looking forward to trying these when they launch in early September. Temptalia already has some swatches up of the colors and the formula looks amazing. 

Elizabeth and James Nirvana Bourbon and Rose fragrances. I checked them out in person this weekend and they are amazing. I love the White (reviewed here) and Black versions, so I am sure that as we move into fall, these two will be purchased and added to the collection. 

Current Summer Scents

Today I am sharing a few of the scents that have been in my rotation a lot this summer. Like most people, I prefer lighter scents in the summer. I also tend to go a little heavier on the florals, as well. I hope you enjoy this roundup. Please let me know if you would like to see another post like this as we move into fall.

I have Elizabeth and James Nirvana in Black and White and love them both, but in the summer I prefer the White version. The main notes in White are Peony, Muguet (aka Lily of the Valley), and Musk. It is a great floral that dries down to a clean scent. I love the rollerball version, as I prefer how it dries down on my skin versus on my clothes when sprayed. As I love both of the current Nirvana scents, I am definitely going to be checking out the new Rose and Bourbon versions.

Tocca Simone is a scent that I have from a sampler set of a few Tocca perfumes. Out of all of them, Simone was hands down my favorite for summer. The description says that the inspiration came from Australia's Bondi Beach, so it is not surprising that it has become such a summer staple. It has a fruity scent and I definitely get a big hit of watermelon and woods with this one. The main notes are: Apple, Watermelon, Lemon, Calypsone, Frangipani, Ylang- Ylang, Rose Petals, Freesia, Creamy Lactones, Blonde Woods, Musk, Amber, and Nirvanolide. 

I have a few scents from Maison Margiela (Flower Market, Jazz Club, and Lazy Sunday Morning) and have found that I really get a lot of use out of them. I know that Beach Walk is a favorite of many people, but for some reason it does not agree with my body chemistry. I love the scent and think it would be great for summer as well, but it  is sadly not for me. I have been using Flower Market a lot lately, as it truly is like stepping into a flower market. I love how fresh the florals are and also think the packaging is adorable. The notes for Flower Market are: Crushed Leaves, Freesia, Sambac Jasmine, Jasmine Infusion, Tuberose Infusion, Rose from Grasse, Peach, Cedarwood, and Oak Moss. 

Chloe is another brand that I love and have multiple fragrances from. Roses de Chloe is the one I have been wearing the most lately, though. I love the strength of the rose notes and how they are truly highlighted in the scent. I also like that the packaging gets a great vintage look to it as the metal does tend to patina a bit. The notes include Fresh Cut Roses, Bergamot, Rose Essence, Magnolia Accord, White Musk, and Amber. 

Last, but certainly not least, is actually my favorite of the bunch. It is Jo Malone Wood Sage & Sea Salt. This is the scent that truly makes me think of the sea. I think that so many beachy scents tend to go the sunscreen smell route and are oftentimes cloying. This one is not. To me, it highlights the best parts of the beach - driftwood, salt, and an overall cleanliness in the air. I wear it year round and people always ask me what it is, I think mostly because it is so different. The notes on this one are: Top: bergamot, ambrette seeds, buchu leaves. Middle: sea salt, mineral accord, dry fruits. Base: driftwood accord, guaiac wood, white musk, sage.

What are some of your current favorite summer scents? 

Natasha Denona Eyeshadow Palette 5 in Palette 02

As I mentioned in the Face Glow review post, I recently purchased a Natasha Denona eyshadow palette. I chose Palette 02 because Beauty Professor stated in her review that it reminded her of the Tom Ford Honeymoon palette, which is often sold out and is something I have yet to splurge on.  I have green eyes and know that purple and taupe-y colors definitely flatter my eyes, so that was another selling point for me. There are 13 palettes total, so there is something for everyone. I have had my eye on the Palette 04, as well, and may eventually cave.

A close up of the pans:

The shadows in the palette are good size pans, which I like. They are highly pigmented and the only eyeshadow I own that is even close to comparable pigment-wise is Kat Von D Metal Crush. Wear time on these is impressive. I do always wear primer because I have oily lids, but these lasted over 13 hours on me before I took my makeup off and I experienced no fading or creasing. I also really love that there is no fallout, which is remarkable considering the pigment level.

Swatches below:

Outdoors in full sun:




Outdoors in shade:




Indoors:

The only part of the palette I am not crazy about is the packaging. I feel that, while it is in sturdy packaging, it is not really up to par with the price tag or other items in the Natasha Denona line. The Face Glow palette is in a nice gold metal case. I do appreciate that you can see the colors through the plastic, which is useful if you have more than one of these, but at the same time, I would like the packaging to be more consistent. As an example, below are the ND Face Glow and Eyeshadow Palette and the Hourglass Ambient Lighting Powder and Modernist Eyeshadow Palette. Notice how the Hourglass packaging is consistent? I want the Natasha Denona items to be that way as well. I think it would look nicer and give the brand a signature look, but that is definitely just my opinion and some people may prefer the packaging that allows you to see the colors.

Another packaging item to note is that even though it appears there is space for a brush, one was not included. I am not sure why you would put that and not include a brush. I would prefer to just not have the space, as it is a waste considering most full size brushes will not fit. So unless you have a smaller one hanging around from an old palette, that space is just left there.

Outer box packaging with shadow color names and ingredients:

Overall, despite my design issues with the packaging (which are entirely personal), the quality of the product itself is phenomenal and more than makes up for it. I am definitely going to be getting another palette sometime in the future, as I have been using this palette so much and love it.  Given that these are so pigmented, they are going to last forever. I purchased the palette for $48 at Beautylish. What is your favorite brand for eyeshadow?