BACK ON TRACK ESSENTIALS (PART II)

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Beauty bloggers is a pretty curious sort of people, when fall is approaching they do not complain about being back to reality, neither they look forward to the next holidays. Aliens? Freaks? Not really, it is just that they know that every-single-morning (apart from Sundays, damn them these days off), a highly irritated postman will hand them one (or several) boxes filled with new makeup launches. Ah fall, ah those pretty lipstick shades, ah the smell of a brand new product being unpacked. Don’t hate me guys, you’ll understand what I’m talking about after discovering the crazy good products of this second, Back On Track article.

“GRAPHIC MAUVE” ENIGMA LIPSTICK BY KIKO

The new season at Kiko starts with a new exclusive collection: called Neo-Noir, this limited edition line is a collaboration between our favorite Milanese brand and the futuristic designer Ross Lovegrove and is all about well-defined corners, geometric shapes and a noir atmosphere filled with black/white contrasts. The collection’s packaging being deigned by Lovegrove, the silhouettes evoke modern and sensual extravagance.
The “Enigma” lipstick is probably one of my biggest crush from this line – the texture is creamy and really easy to apply, while the colour (I have it in “Graphic Mauve”) is rich and long-lasting. But in my opinion it is really the scent that makes all the difference (because let’s be honest, KIKO’s lipsticks are always on point); the Enigma lipstick contains extracts of passion fruit’s oil – something to keep us in the summer mood a bit longer, right?

DIVINE TONE MOISTURIZING FACE SERUM BY KIKO

Another major crush from Kiko’s Neo-Noir limited edition collection; this Moisturizing Face Serum does (obviously) hydrate the skin, but it also protects it from everyday’s damage and pollution. As this silky serum is easily absorbed I find it perfect to use as a makeup base.

“COQUE D’OR” PALETTE 5 COULEURS BY GUERLAIN

Coming in a chic black compact with a generously sized mirror and two applicators (one sponge applicator, and one dual-ended brush), Guerlain’s new palette is all about timeless style. This new fall launch combines a light base shade, two nude shades and two smoky shades that can be combined to create a variety of day and night looks. I got to test the “Coque d’Or”, which is the right palette for those that are into beige/golden eye-shadows as I am. Let’s have a closer look to the five shades of this palette:

BASE : a very light beige with a matte finish and a soft, silky consistency. The texture is perfect to work with, easily blendable + I started using it to illuminate the brow bone as a final touch to my makeup
NUDE #1 : a warm-toned light gold with a golden shimmering finish. The texture is smooth and the coverage medium – I would definitely advise to use it over a primer
NUDE #2 : a medium brown with a golden shimmering finish as well. The texture is very fine and smooth, it applies evenly and blends easily. The color payoff is very good, no need of a primer there
SMOKY #1 : a dark chestnut brown with a golden shimmering finish. Probably my favorite shade of this palette as it has an incredible smooth and buttery texture that has a good pigmentation as well as a good color payoff – a real pleasure to work with!
SMOKY #2 : a dark khaki with a subtle gold shimmering finish. The coverage is good, without being amazing – if you want a decent colour payoff you need to layer this shade and eventually use a primer.

“FALL IN NUDE” KISSKISS LIPSTICK BY GUERLAIN

This Fall brings many newbies into Guerlain’s collections, and the brand’s famous Kiss Kiss lipstick line is no exception as it has seen it’s range widen with the arrival of two additional shades: “Fall in Nude” and “Fall in Red”. I got the “Fall in Nude” to test and even though it seemed too light of a color to me, once applied it turned out to be just what I needed for the start of a new Uni term! The shade is a tender nude with gold shimmer and satin finish. When I excepted (and dreaded) an opaque coverage, the lipstick surprised me with a sheer one, almost transparent-like – it does not completely change your lip color but leaves your lips with a lovely golden gleam.

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SOUFFLE DE VELVET LIPGLOSSES BY BOURJOIS

Launched this July, the Souffle De Velvet lipglosses by Bourjois are just as cute as they are good – the range, consisted of eight shades, promises a veil of “sheer matte, elegant & discreet lip colour”. Well, as sheer is usually associated with a glossy, sheeny finish while matte is all about opacity, I must admit having had doubts … But those Bourjois Souffle de Velvet are indeed semi-transparent with a very interesting and discreet matte finish that, unlike some others matte lipsticks/glosses, does not leave the lips dry and can be easily applied without any primer!
My two favorite shades are probably “Carameli Melo”, a sort of dark nude with a pinkish finish, and “Cherry Leaders” that is THE red of the collection.

DUAL-INTENSITY CHEEK PALETTE

Ever since I opened myself to Nars’ products, my collection of blushes/powders has drastically improved: you might remember my huge crush on the brand’s summer limited edition “Liberation” (yep, I’m currently scraping the last inches of powder left in this great double-blush palette) as well as my recent discovery: Nars’ “Talia” contour blush palette. But the brand’s Fall line is definitely bringing more pleasant surprises – the new, also limited edition Dual-Intensity Cheek Palette includes four powder blushes (though one is more of an highlighter than a blush), let’s have a closer look shall we?
I – Soft Tulle : a “highlighter” I was talking about, this shade is a pale, silvery pink with shimmers. I love applying it above any of the other colors in the palette, creating a sort of natural glow on the cheek.
II – Damask with Gold Sheen :  a medium-dark rosy plum with a gold, frosted shimmer. Definitely the most natural-looking shade of the palette
III – Peony : a deep, fuchsia-berry with with slight sparkle – this one has a very rich and intense pigmentation, so if you’re usually heavy-handed on blushes you will need to go slower on this shade
IV – Titian : a warm brown with a little shimmer, quite similar to the rosy/terracota shade of the Liberation palette – makes an awesome bronzer or sculptor. I’m using it in the hallows of my cheeks and along the jaw bone to create definition.

The only reproach I could make is that you definitely need a dense synthetic fibered brush to use this palette as the top coat is relatively hard to work with at the beginning. People say that Nars’ blush brush #23 works as a charm with this product, but I haven’t laid my hands on it yet, so let’s just keep it in mind.


Pictures : Charles Legrand