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| Above: The full face (including all four Napoleon products reviewed in this post) in action at the Arches National Park in Moab, Utah last week! |
Upon interviewing the kind and magnanimous Napoleon Perdis (full details found HERE), I also had the chance to experience some of the latest releases from the Napoleon line, including his Auto Pilot BBB Cream and products from the runway-friendly Nude Bar Phase II Collection.
Scroll on for product reviews and images as well as additional pictures of all four products on the face and a VIDEO review…
Auto Pilot BBB (Beauty Boosting Balm) Cream: The explosion of BB creams in the beauty market has caused me to be quite jaded to the concept. This product, once-indigenous to only Asian countries, has been replicated so many times over by every major beauty brand in the last two years that it seems to have lost a bit of its novelty. That being said, I was beyond pleasantly surprised to experience the Napoleon Auto Pilot BBB Cream, which retails for $45. Infused with anti-aging ingredients (including green tea, marine minerals, blueberry seed oil and snail mucus!) and a respectable broad-spectrum SPF 30, this silky primer, moisturizer and light foundation offers light to medium coverage and imparts the most flattering glow! Upon first application, I must admit, I was skeptical that it would provide the coverage I prefer (medium to medium +). However, after stippling it on with a Beauty Blender, I was shocked to see that my uneven tone and freckles were replaced with a radiant and balanced canvas that looked like a perfect version of my skin! This unscented wonder comes in two shades (light-medium and medium-dark), lasts the entire day with minimal need for touch ups and is an excellent option for those seeking light to medium protective coverage with a splendidly luminous finish.
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| Above: The Auto Pilot BBB Cream comes in a one ounce squeeze tube. |
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| Above: The full ingredients list (note: no added fragrance!)…I love how friendly this has been to my ultra-sensitive skin. |
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| Above: The squeeze tube is portable, secure and hygienic…perfect to throw into one’s handbag. |
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| Above: Here are the swatches of the BBB Cream in Light-Medium…left side, in direct indoor light (note the luminosity) and right side, in natural daylight (an excellent beige for light to light medium NC 15-NC 25 skin tones). |
Eye Bright Inner Rim Eyeliner: Retailing for $20, this retractable cream pencil is designed to deliver a youthful, refreshed look to the eye area. The extremely precise tip glides along the inner rim of the eye (including the waterline), leaving a bright and glowing effect in its wake. I also love using it in the corners of my eyes and along my brown bone for added luminosity!
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| Above: The Napoleon Eye Bright features a creamy champagne-tinged white pigment that effortlessly brings life to the eye area. |
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| Above: Eye Bright swatched in indoor lighting. The micro tip creates a very precise line, making it perfect for the waterline area. |
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| Above: Eye Bright on my water line and corners of my eyes…the only other eye makeup worn in this image is mascara! |
Lip Liner in In the Buff: This lipliner is extremely opaque and pigmented for a pale shade! Tonally speaking, In the Buff reminds me most of the light peachy flesh effect present in MAC lipliner in Naked, but it is more hydrating and long lasting than the MAC formula. I love using this as a nude base, filling in my entire lip area with the pencil before adding additional lip color, or, as in the case of the images at the end of this post, simply a swath of gloss. It isn’t drying, doesn’t settle into lines and lasts for hours…this is a must for nude lip color lovers!
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| Above: In the Buff is a light peachy beige toned pencil that requires traditional sharpening. |
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| Above: A swatch of In the Buff (top line on my wrist). It is incredibly creamy and opaque and is excellently-suited for creating a pale lip in mere seconds! |
Luminous Lip Veil in Overcoat: Easily my favorite item from the Nude Bar II Collection, the Luminous Lip Veil in Overcoat is an ultra shiny, semi-opaque neutral beige with pink micro-shimmer that brings out the natural tone of one’s lips. Lightly scented with a sweet vanilla aroma, this gloss is intensely moisturizing with a delightfully non-sticky finish. Since receiving this, I have kept it in my purse for use nonstop; what I find most alluring about this gloss is that it looks lovely on its own (it is somehow simultaneously pale, yet deep enough to stand out) as well as being the perfect finishing touch for an existing lip liner or lip color. In light of its comfort and versatility, I know I will not be without this for months to come!
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| Above: Luminous Lip Veil in Overcoat…the pink micro-shimmer |
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| Above: The Luminous Lip Veil retails for a very reasonable $20. |
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| Above: Overcoat is a neutral nude beige that looks lovely on its own or over other lip color. |
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| Above: A swatch of Overcoat in direct sunlight. |
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| Above: A close up of the Overcoat swatch…the pink micro-shimmer is apparent, indeed! |
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| Above: In the Buff lipliner and Overcoat Luminous Lip Veil together on the lips (in indoor lighting). |
Below: The following images reflect all of the products in harmony on the face, as well as my VIDEO review with swatches…
Bottom Line: The latest releases from the Napoleon line are simply brilliant. The BBB Cream was a splendid surprise; in my experience, the glowiness, coverage and longevity differentiate it from the vast sea of conventional BB creams, making it a product I will continue to reach for in the future. The Nude Bar Phase II products exceeded this nude lover’s expectations…from the rich opacity of In the Buff to the ultra-flattering neutrality of Overcoat, the quality ingredients and gorgeous tones make these absolutely covet-worthy!
**PR samples provided for review, however, as always, all of my opinions are expressly and unequivocally my own. This post contains affiliate links; my disclosure policy contains additional details on how these work.
Comments (13)
Hi B.P, love the review and yet another favorite finish of mine…luminous. I remember all too clear how at 1 time, it was so hard to find a long lasting luminous foundation/bb cream. I appreciate how all the brands are perfecting the longevity and ingredients in this catagory. I really would like to check out the Napolean bbb. Do you think the gloss reminds you of LMdB Bloom at all? It has such a unique color/pigment. Opaque, creamy & surprise sparkles that are very grown-up. Love it on you. Thank you. xoxo
Hello dear Lynn!
Thank you so much…yes, this BBB cream is extremely luminous, which is what I think differentiates it from its contemporaries! We have definitely come a long way in this category ; ) I think you would enjoy the Napoleon BBB as a light and luminous option…I've even worn it in tandem with the Kanebo Sensai for extra SPF protection and luminosity. In the tube, the gloss could look similar to LMdB Bloom (both have rather pale, neutral beige undertones), but when swatched/worn on the lips, I find that Overcoat is a bit sheerer and slightly darker (probably because it is not as opaque as the Bloom, thereby allowing more of my natural lip color to show through). Loving it!!
I hope your week is off to a wonderful start…today, I am in the midst of finalizing syllabi for my classes ; ) Good times!
xoxo and talk soon,
–The Beauty Professor
Oh no!! class work already!! I am also trying to enjoy what's left to the precious summer. As you know, here in the eastcoast, we get suchcold weatherso soon and for so long. I love fall but it's back to school for my little 1 and back to chaos. I am goin to order the Napoleon especially with that genius idea of putting it underneath the Kanebo. I like the medium coverage like you and could always use the extra staying power at work in the salon. I wanted to tell you of a pleasant surprise Igot from Bare Minerals. You know I tune in to QVC for beauty specials. Well the other night they had a new lipstick/gloss duo in Nude!! It was selling out fast so I got onmy computer and managed to grab it before it soldout. It came today & I love it. The duo cost only 24.96 for a limited time. U can still get that price but it's on waitlist right now. The lipstick is called Take charge & described as a nude rose. They have new packaging for the lipstick-very nice. The gloss, marvelous moxie in shade Super power. It's a soft peach nude. I really like it and to me makes a perfect creamy nude but I don't see any apparent peach so I'm not sure why it's described that way. I thought u might like to check it out on their website. They return things easily & I love that u can get great deals on duos & products that come with great high-end brushes that on their own, cost a small fortune. I tried it on with no liner & it looks great. It's great to save $$$ on beauty because it's what I buy the most! I hope you check it out…u can even watch a video of the product on different skintones but I have to say, it looks better in person! xoxo
Regarding the comment on the bareminerals lip/gloss, I believe they call it power neutrals. Or nudes.
I know…how dare the summer decide to be over so quickly!! Love that you are going to try the Napoleon BBB…its seriously my favorite BB cream of all I've tried. Thanks for the info about your Bare Minerals score…I tell you, sometimes QVC can feel like a very powerful vortex that just sucks you in! Despite the hard sell, I have found some products from the channel that I absolutely love (Mally Mascara, here's looking at you!). Your gloss and lip color due sound just lovely; I will definitely have to take a peek online!
xoxo and hope your Wednesday is going well,
–The Beauty Professor
Hi Beauty Professor
I have just started using this BBB cream and just love it. I agree with how luminous it is but still gives good coverage.It really is a great product. I have yet to try the other products you mentioned but I sure love the nude lip look. I always try the brights but they never look right and always go back to the nude colours. Also as a mum to 5 wearing bright lips to take the kids to school sometimes seems a little much.
I'm off to try the others today.
Have a great day.
Hi Julie,
How wonderful to hear that you use and love the BBB cream…thanks for sharing. It is somewhat of a paradox, no? It gives great coverage while still being quite blowy…love! I'm with you on the brights/nudes debate. Once in a blue moon, I will embrace (and enjoy) a bright, bold lip, but the rest of the time, I stick with my trusty nude pinks. Five kids…wow! That's fantastic!
xoxo and have a lovely day,
–The Beauty Professor
Hi again, hope you are well. Have you tried Napoleon's foundation Sheer Genius? It is really lovely I have to admit it's the first bottle of foundation that I have emptied. I am quite fickle when it comes to foundation and I'm always changing and trying out others so that was quite an accomplishment and a credit to the foundation
take care
Hello Julie,
I haven't tried his Sheer Genius Foundation yet (but have heard good things!). I have his tinted moisturizer on deck to try next and perhaps will have to add the Sheer Genius to the list! Well done on finishing an entire bottle of foundation…that rarely occurs with me (albeit, I have a rather large obsession when it comes to foundation!) but it is always satisfying when it does ; )
xoxo and enjoy the day!
–The Beauty Professor
Dearest BP,
Thanks for the review on the Napoleon BBB cream and new collection. I have also being a little skeptical about the hype and to be honest, a little unclear on the difference between a tinted moisturiser and a BB(B) cream. I imagine that this product would be really practical (not to mention time-saving) for travel, or whenever someone just wants to keep things easy and I will have to check it out. PS: I am loving Chanel Inspiration so much, the longevity is amazing and it is such a flattering shade that goes with everything.
Wishing you a beautiful and uplifting week, Karen xoxo
Hello dear Karen,
Thank you for the thoughtful comment! I agree, there is often a very fine line between sheer foundation, a tinted moisturizer and BB creams…we, as the consumers, are left to navigate the differences! This particular incarnation is extremely easy and time saving, and the luminous finish sets it light years ahead of its competitors!
So glad to hear that you are loving Inspiration…I am nearly finished with my first compact (that rarely, if ever, happens) and will need to purchase a replacement soon…such a perfect, everyday color!
Have a blessed week…xoxo and talk soon,
–The Beauty Professor
The finish looks so gorgeous on you!! I loved your interview too. What a great personality! 🙂
Thank you so much, Daydreaming Beauty!! I am thrilled to hear you enjoyed my interview, too…it was such a pleasure to conduct!
xoxo and thanks for stopping by,
–The Beauty Professor