I has been a long time since I have hit up a Clinique counter. But if anything was tempting me, it was their “Chubby Sticks” – launched a couple years ago, I loved the multi-use and what appeared to be creamy texture.
When Neimans sent over the newest Chubby, I was so excited to have a chance to dive in. The Clinique Chubby Stick Sculpting Highlight has the creamy texture that I envisioned. This light-reflecting formula is super sheer which works well on my mid-30s skin, especially in a professional environment. I like to swipe over foundation on cheekbones, nose and brow bones. I totally skip eye shadow, preferring just this slight wash of shadow below brows.
The sophisticated shimmer lasts all day. Those with oily or combo skin types will love that this is oil-free. And to dispense more of the stick, all you do is twist the bottom – so far it appears to have a generous amount of product, particularly for the price point. This week, I am going to attempt a bare face but you better bet I will be “cheating” with this (and a little concealer).
Samples generously provided by Neiman Marcus as part of the Beauty Ambassador Program. I consult for Neiman Marcus which is affiliated with the Neiman Marcus Group, but as always, opinions are my own.
Let me say this off the bat: this is a true luxury duo with a price to match. But when I showed up to lunch sans makeup except for these two yesterday, I was met with “Your skin looks so good! So dewy!” For me, that says quite a bit when I am going relatively bare.
I am both pleasantly surprised but then again not much at all. After all, Le Metier de Beaute was one of the first lines I fell hard for as a new blogger five years ago. But slowly they fell off my radar – still adored but not quite as prevalent on my vanity. All that changed with what I sense is a bit of a revamp from the brand.
As always, they are front and center at Neiman Marcus stores. And it is a beautiful marriage – gorgeous packaging, state-of-the-art skin care and beautiful and timeless shades are all qualities of the brand. Their marquis products are from their Peau Vierge line. Peau Vierge translates to “virgin skin” – I am totally on board.
Previously packaged in a metal container with a pump, Peau Vierge Anti-Aging Complexe is now in a friendly tube – a little less glamorous given the price tag but so much easier to use, especially for travel. This tinted moisturizer is sheer but correcting. But the bright spot is how the formula works to improve skin over the long term. It restores and tightens while providing protection with SPF 18.
For those looking for a gentle retinol, search no further. In all my testing, this formula has been the easiest to use – I avoid all that irritation and redness but still see a clarity after about a week of using. I always had an affinity for Shade Two – a neutral beige. But after using both Two and Three over the last couple of weeks, I like the golden base of Three for much needed warmth on my winter skin. Unfortunately, these shades will only work for those with fair-to-medium skin tones.
I follow up with a “new to me” product by Le Metier: the Lueur Stylo PV Glow Pen Highlighter. While highlighting pens are ubiquitous these days, I really do find this version great for brightening the under eye. It is definitely not a concealer, but the radiant finish corrects without being heavy. I prefer Shade Two while Shade One will be perfect for those with fair skin.
Talk about a New Year’s win-win: I get natural, glowy and dewy skin. Plus I am working in retinol and SPF daily while also improving my skin tone and fine lines. While the duo is a splurge and a little under the radar, my rediscovery of Le Metier proves it still has products for great skin and true pay-off.
Samples generously provided by Neiman Marcus as part of the Beauty Ambassador Program. I consult for Neiman Marcus which is affiliated with the Neiman Marcus Group, but as always, opinions are my own.
Looking for a holiday glow? Are you like me with pasty, winter skin? Here is an indie beauty brand that might just be right up your alley.
I have lusted over Prtty Peaushun the last couple months in the pages of magazines and on the Gloss48 site. I finally pulled the trigger and now am the proud owner of the celeb-favorite lotion in Medium and Dark. Kicking myself for not adding this to my vanity earlier. The Medium actually works well on my arms and face this time of year. Dark has more of a bronzing effect and I love it on my legs and it should be perfect in the summer.
This stuff has been around for a while – makeup artist Bethany Karlyn would concoct this formula before photo shoots in tupperware containers. Every time, clients swooned over the lotion and she decided to sell it to the public. By “clients” here I mean huge celebrities – prtty peaushun fans include Rihanna, Gwyneth Paltrow, Brooklyn Decker and Selena Gomez.
I love the way the potion evens skin and adds a radiance. It works to correct skin flaws. And it also shows off hard gym work with muscle definition. It soothes skin including sore muscles, bug bites and sunburn. Some have referred to it as “photoshop in a pouch”.
While I am not wild about the scent, it doesn’t stick around long. I am suspicious that I am sensing the avocado which just happens not to be my personal favorite. The formula is technically fragrance-free so it is just these ingredients showing their true colors:
Available in Plain, Light, Medium, Dark and Deep Dark. Vegan, natural, cruelty-free, gluten-free and paraben-free. Available at Gloss48 – which I love for stocking up on all sorts of indie brands.
AN EDITORIAL SAMPLE MAY HAVE BEEN PROVIDED BY THE COMPANY AND EVALUATED TO DETERMINE OUR OPINION OF THE PRODUCT IN THIS POST. PLEASE SEE THE DISCLOSURES PAGE FOR FURTHER INFORMATION REGARDING OUR POLICIES FOR USING EDITORIAL SAMPLES.
Last year, Kate Somerville first dipped her toes into color cosmetics in the best way possible. Her CC Cream married skin care and makeup with outstanding results. And her next product, Kate Somerville ‘IllumiKate’ Concealing Eye Cream, is even better.
I am a huge fan of illuminating “wands”. I have tried so so many variations from the classic to offerings from more indie brands. But this one finally brings in a great eye cream, adding a skin care element in a way that only Kate can.
The click-pen dispenses a concealer/eye cream hybrid into a brush. For some reason, no matter what the brand, I always use my finger to apply and then use the attached brush to disperse. Lastly, I blend in again with my finger. But, I admit… to each their own. Applying with a brush might be more hygienic. I just perfect the final finish of a manual application.
The formula is lightweight and works to improve the look of wrinkles while brightening dark circles. The coverage isn’t terribly opaque but I like the more natural finish of a lighter-weight and illuminating effect. Bonus points for the two-in-one product – especially important with my rushed mornings that accompany my new job.
Not only will you look better immediately. Kate Somerville’s proven skin care ingredients work to improve collagen production, add firmness and smooth fine wrinkles. And my dry skin drinks up the added hydration. I use shade Medium for light to medium skin tones with a perfect match. Made in the USA.
AN EDITORIAL SAMPLE MAY HAVE BEEN PROVIDED BY THE COMPANY AND EVALUATED TO DETERMINE OUR OPINION OF THE PRODUCT IN THIS POST. PLEASE SEE THE DISCLOSURES PAGE FOR FURTHER INFORMATION REGARDING OUR POLICIES FOR USING EDITORIAL SAMPLES.
Usually during the summer, I am all about bronzer, bronzer, bronzer. But leave it to Eve Lom to convert me to a Translucent Powder. A brand that I have only known for skin care, Eve Lom is known for using technique to reveal luminous and radiant skin. Not surprisingly, their color cosmetics are beautifully simple and natural-looking.
As someone with dry skin, I am a little weary when it comes to powder. But this version is luxurious and velvety. My skin is left incredibly soft and hydrated thanks to the fruit stem cell extracts. The light weight is thanks to its micro-find texture. And each particle is rose-shaped (how glam even if we can’t see it!).
I’ve been wearing Eve Lom Sheer Radiance Translucent Powder in Dawn which is surprisingly transparent on me. A little goes a long way, and it is easy to get over zealous with the included brush. So I sweep across skin quickly and then blend with a bigger brush (or sometimes, actually my hands… shhh). My dry skin soaks up its hydration but I think the formula is balanced enough that it would work for normal to oily skin as well. I’d probably caution those with very oily skin to try out at a counter first. The finish is radiant and the light-diffusing properties conceal fine lines (and even some hyper-pigmentation!).
I love the packaging even if the product comes out quickly. In my opinion, better than the alternative. Perfect to throw into your summer clutch to add a mid-evening glow. Plus, it just looks so pretty.
Samples generously provided by Neiman Marcus as part of the Beauty Ambassador Program, but as always, opinions are my own.
Well, hello there April. While it is cold and rainy here today, I’d like to officially mark this day as the beginning of spring. I know technically it was back in March, but I have a dirty secret for you. I absolutely hate April Fool’s Day. I fall for some prank every single time. On a more serious note, the ever popular “I’m pregnant” Facebook update really offends me as there are so many people in the world that struggle with infertility. So instead of Fool’s Day, April 1st will always mark spring in my book! Anyway… back to beauty.
Spring means a more natural, undone and bronzed look in my world. I just got a fresh hair cut, so I am enjoying my natural waves and letting my hair air dry. I’m skipping darker lips and eyes in favor of glowing, luminous skin. Behind the scenes here at Belle Belle, I’ve been test driving some goodies, and now I am happy to present my favorites to warm up the complexion:
1. benefit Dallas is a natural and plum-based bronzer that is on the matte side. Because it is so sheer, it works well for a wide range of fairer skin tones. Used all over, it can banish dullness or layered where the sun hits gives a vibrant glow.
2. NARS New Contour Blush Duos are also on the matte side and add that perfectly balanced warmth. Despite the “Blush” name, I find the darker shade of the duo works best under the cheekbones and around the temples. I’ve played around with the lighter shade and surprisingly love it under the eyes and down the center of the nose. It also doubles as a luminous face powder on the go. I tested both Olympia (perfect for the most fair to light skin) and Paloma (my pick for my light to medium skin tone).
3. CoverGirl TruMagic The Sunkisser has to be my most favorite drugstore find in the past couple months. What looks like a dark bronze cream transforms into a subtle, layerable glow on the skin. While you can use this to contour, I like using it liberally around the outside of my face, sides of my nose and even on my lids for a true “sunkissed” look.
4. jane iredale In Touch Highlighter in Comfort perfectly offsets bronzed areas with a pink glisten. The pale pink adds radiance and the cream formula lends to a more subtle glow. I like to apply directly from the stick to tops of cheekbones, brow bone and the bridge of the nose and then blend with my fingers.
AN EDITORIAL SAMPLE MAY HAVE BEEN PROVIDED BY THE COMPANY AND EVALUATED TO DETERMINE OUR OPINION OF THE PRODUCT IN THIS POST. PLEASE SEE THE DISCLOSURES PAGE FOR FURTHER INFORMATION REGARDING OUR POLICIES FOR USING EDITORIAL SAMPLES.
