The month of May is rife with fresh releases thus far; consequently, I am excited to share a couple of new gems from Natasha Denona and YSL Beauty as well as some new discoveries from RMS. Ultimately, they will converge and harmonize in the form of a cohesive look at the end of this post!
Kindly scroll on for more details, swatches and images of the products in action as well as the Bottom Line…
Natasha Denona Sculpt & Glow and Duo Glows in their natural habitat…sunlight.
Up first are two sublime additions to the highly-lauded Natasha Denona line. Boasting the ability to effortlessly create a natural and entirely flattering glow, your complexion will be spring and summer ready in mere seconds.
The Natasha Denona Sculpt & Glow Palette in Light-Medium.
Possessing all necessary components to deftly add definition and dimension to the face, the *Natasha Denona Sculpt & Glow Palette takes the guesswork out of contouring.
The top row, which in a twist of genius is covered by a clear plastic window–features three cream shades for highlighting (without shimmer), contouring and imparting glow in a super sheer and subtle manner. The bottom row has a translucent Japanese powder (excellent for setting makeup as well as brightening up the under eye area), a sculpting powder and a shimmering powder.
The palettes come in two shades: Light-Medium (suitable for N/NW/NC 10-30 skin) and Medium-Dark (suitable for N/NW/NC 35-50+ skin).
In terms of texture, the creams are smooth and richly pigmented and I am deeply appreciative of the true brown tones in the contour and sculpting shades. After being subjected to a swath of contouring kits that errantly rely on warm, nearly orange hues, these palettes are breath of fresh air. Easy to blend for a truly natural finish, everything in the palette applies like a dream and this modern take on face sculpting is well-executed, indeed.
A six-piece, highlighting and contouring palette to sweep on subtle contours, along with Natasha’s signature glow.
What it does: The Sculpt & Glow Face Highlighting & Contour Glow Palette features unique cream and powder formulas that are specially designed to brush on subtle contours in just six simple steps. The palette is based off of contour, highlighting, and strobing makeup techniques that Natasha uses on her clients and on models for photoshoots. The highlighting and contouring creams are formulated with properties that support anti-aging, are high in antioxidants, and contain sunflower seed and jojoba to hydrate skin. Designed to subtly contour and highlight facial features without making them appear too sharp or subtle, this palette leaves your complexion with a natural, healthy-looking glow.
This palette contains: – 0.25 oz/ 7 g Highlighting Cream – 0.25 oz/ 7 g Contour Cream – 0.25 oz/ 7 g Face Glow Cream Shimmer – 0.25 oz/ 7 g Japanese Powder – 0.25 oz/ 7 g Contour Sculpting Powder – 0.25 oz/ 7 g All Over Glow Face & Body Shimmer
Swatches of the Natasha Denona Sculpt & Glow Palette in Light-Medium.
The Natasha Denona Sculpt & Glow Palette in Medium-Dark.
Swatches of the Natasha Denona Sculpt & Glow Palette in Medium-Dark.
The cool pink Rayo has glistening platinum undertones and the warm coral Alba emanates with a base of gold; they coyly play with the light, shifting from light rosy hues to a lustrous gleam, all the while taking skin to the next level. Both look stunning as an incandescent blush and darker skin tones will revel in the gorgeous highlighting potential. Additionally, they could be layered over a more matte blush for an instant transformation….the possibilities are infinite! The Duo Glows will be available any day so check back at Beautylish and Sephora often…these powders are entirely worth the pursuit, the swatches speak for themselves, no?
A hydrating, multipurpose highlighter that’s infused with real crushed duo chrome pearls to give the face an ultimate, supernatural glow.
What it does: Specially formulated for a long-lasting finish, Duo Glow glides across the skin, leaving an intense, otherworldly glow with pink or coral undertones, without looking flaky. Ideal for achieving a duo-chrome glow, it’s easy to apply, lightweight, and comfortable. This long-lasting formula leaves your skin with a multi-dimensional shimmer and a glowing finish.
Rayo (above) and Alba (below) in natural outdoor lighting.
The look.
// THE LOOK // With a focus on fresh and glowing skin and rosy nude accents, this look can easily be achieved in 10 minutes or less.
// SKIN and HAIR CARE //
*Saints & Sinners Velvet Divine Leave-In Conditioner: Directly following washing my hair the night before, I sprayed a bit of this leave-in conditioner for enhanced smoothness and bounce. Free of potentially harmful ingredients (e.g., parabens etc.), this formula smooths, adds shine, minimizes frizz and detangles in a single spritz.
*La Solution 10 de Chanel (also available at Neiman Marcus): A go-to when my skin has gone through too much product testing, this lightweight cream hydrates and nourishes with just ten ingredients…on rotation since last year!
*Le Metier de Beaute Peau Vierge #2 (reviewed HERE): A forever favorite, a pea-sized amount possesses illuminating, skin perfecting properties that prime my skin for foundation. I think it goes without saying that I never want to be without this.
*Byredo Super Cedar (reviewed HERE): I am loving the intriguing allure of this woodsy fragrance; it is all at once mysterious and mood lifting and the lasting power is insanely good.
*By Terry Baume de Rose (also available at Beautylish and reviewed HERE): A gentle sweep of this plush gloss-meets-balm prepares my lips for the subsequent lipstick to come.
Base + Face.
// BASE and FACE //
YSL Touche Eclat Cushion Foundation BD 50: I have had this foundation on my radar for quite awhile now and was pleasantly surprised to find it on the counter at Nordstrom. It appears that the formula, which is housed in a filagree cushion compact, runs a bit light as I found my perfect match in BD 50 (when I am usually in the 30-40 range in YSL). This foundation applies sheerly but can be effortlessly built to a texture-free medium coverage. The name may be a bit misleading as I wouldn’t call it inordinately glowy; instead, it offers a satin finish that looks like fresh and healthy skin. I get a remarkable amount of wear time with this particular formula; in fact, as I type these words, I find myself at the end of a 12-hour lecture day and realized that I didn’t touch it up (even with powder) once and my face has minimal fading and no oily breakthrough. All in all, this is a marvelous addition to the cushion compact world and I, for one, am extremely happy that it doesn’t contain SPF as I prefer to apply my own prior to my foundation.
*Natasha Denona Sculpt & Glow in Light Medium: I used the deep brown Contour Sculpting Powder to gently contour and also buffed it onto the perimeters of my face for additional dimension. I then swept the Japanese Pressed Powder along my lower orbital area to smooth and brighten. Finally, I used my ring finger to gently tap the Highlighting Cream along the high points of my face and down the bridge of my nose for additional glow.
*Natasha Denona Duo Glow in Rayo: I focused my application of the cool pink Rayo on the apples of my cheeks…this blush/highlighter adds an unmistakable radiance-infused wash of color.
RMS Swift Shadow in Garden Rose #19: Beguiled by the wearable rose tone of this silky shadow, it was love at first swatch. With impressively clean ingredients and a satin finish that eschews overt shimmer, this shade is excellent as an all over wash of color.
RMS Magnetic Eye Polish in Lucky: I picked up this ultra-luminous warm copper cream with the intent of pairing it with Garden Rose; the glowy sheen works well blended to the brow bone and the lasting power is surprisingly strong.
*Chikuhodo GSN 08 Eyeshadow Brush(reviewed HERE): With its pointed edge and flat shape, this brush expertly applies and precisely blends both powder and cream shadows…I use it constantly.
*IT Cosmetics Superhero Mascara (reviewed HERE): I’m on tube #3 of this lovely mascara; it provides major length, lift and volume in two coats and performs well with my sensitive eyes.
La Prairie Cellular Lip Color in Tawny (reviewed HERE): This quintessential rosy nude has a creamy texture, immense hydrating properties and an opaque color payoff that is sure to flatter a spectrum of skin tones.
Swatches in direct sunlight.
The following images reflect all products in action…
// STYLE NOTES // Denim on denim with a neutral take on footwear.
Frame Denim Skinny Stagger Jeans: I wear this interesting spin on a classic straight leg jean constantly and the blue denim with no holes is excellent to dress up and down.
Pale Denim Shirt (another option–on sale–from 7 For All Mankind): Lightweight and timeless, this versatile blouse works in a myriad of situations.
Nike Zoom Modairna (also available at Nike): I gave these fascinating tennis shoes a lot of thought before purchasing but am so glad I did; they satisfy my love of nude-toned shoes and they are ultra comfortable, taking dress and jeans to the next level in a singular way.
Vintage Cartier Necklace: Always on my neck, I have found that this particular necklace has appreciated with time (Cartier is one of the rare brands that does this!).
Bottom Line: I hope you enjoyed this beauty product laden story and would love to know what caught your eye!
Good things ahead, including a Beauty with Benefits spotlight, a new video tutorial and a host of new discoveries…I am also in the midst of responding to your latest batch of emails and comments.
Thanks, as always, for your patience, support and loyal presence on this blog!
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