CHANEL Soleil Tan De Chanel Sheer Illuminating Fluid Review

Chanel Soleil Tan De Chanel Sheer Illuminating Fluid ($48) is described as a sheer, weightless liquid that instantly brightens your skin and evens out skin tone. The light reflecting pigments provide radiance and luminosity. Botanical extracts soften, smooth and moisturize. Oil free & fragrance free.

This micro-shimmer bronzer is great if you're looking for a subtle highlight to the skin. Many will appreciate the understated luminous glow that this product has to offer. It is absolutely beautiful when it hits the sunlight.

You can use the Sheer Illuminating Fluid on both the face and body. Use it on the high points of your face (cheekbones, temples, bridge of nose) for a small highlighted lift or mix it into your moisturizer or foundation for a radiant healthy glow to the skin.

It blends out well and its drying time allows for blending without resulting in patchiness. It can be used by all skin types. If you have oily skin you won't have to worry about it sliding, it will stay put.

Chanel Sheer Illuminating Fluid Swatched & Blended

Throughout the winter I've been using it as a highlight on the high points of my face and can't wait for the sunny days in spring and summer to add it into my foundation routine.

PACKAGING
If you're familiar with Chanel products you know that the high end brand doesn't skimp when it comes to packaging; they're known for their simple yet sexy luxurious design. The Sheer Illuminating Fluid comes in a glass bottle with a plastic twist cap. It is a bit difficult to pour some of the liquid out without spilling it on the sides of the opening since it has a thin consistency. I would have liked the convenience of a pump for the liquid especially considering how much you pay for it. And although the glass gives it a more luxurious touch, it is a bit heavy for this 1 oz bottle. This can be inconvenient for travel purposes.

The other downfall to the Chanel Sheer Illuminating Fluid is the lack of variety in color. It only comes in this "sunkissed" shade which may not be ideal for every skin tone. It works well for pale to medium skin tones but may not show as much on darker skin tones. 

The Rundown
This is a product that I do enjoy but I rarely reach for. Although it does provide a nice subtle glow to the cheeks when used as a highlighter but I prefer to save it for the summertime and use it for an overall glow by mixing it in with my foundation. It is a splurge item so a pump would have been nice. I do recommend it but only to those with lighter complexions.

Availability: Nordstrom / Chanel / Macys / Bloomingdales / Neiman Marcus
Price: $48 (1 oz)

What is your favorite liquid bronzer/highlighter?

Anastasia Beverly Hills Dipbrow Pomade Review

Anastasia Beverly Hills Dipbrow Pomade ($18) is described as a waterproof brow color ideal for sculpting, defining, and carving perfectly precise brows that won't fade. Their smudge-free, creamy formula glides on skin and adheres to hair. It's a must have for oily skin and humid climates.

Dipbrow Pomade is available in (5) shades: blonde, auburn, chocolate, dark brown and ebony. New shades are to be released in the Fall of 2014. I own this pomade in blonde, auburn and chocolate.

The gel-like formula of this pomade allows for a smooth easy application that glides on without much effort. With its opaque pigmentation it is perfect for creating both bold and soft looking brows. The opacity will not only stay on your skin but your hairs as well, even if they are darker than the shade you're applying. Whatever look you're going for depends on the amount you apply and the technique you use.

For a softer natural brow look, use light hair-like strokes throughout your brow and make sure to blend out with a spoolie. It does set fairly quickly so I recommend working on one brow at a time. You will need to run a spoolie through your brow before the product dries.

Anastasia Beverly Hills Dipbrow Pomades (blonde, auburn, chocolate)

This brings me to its lasting power. Once the pomade has settled, it is STAYING PUT. The longest I've had it on has been for 14 hours without any smudging even after sleeping. (Yes, I know I shouldn't sleep with makeup on.. I usually don't, I just didn't have makeup remover readily available to me)

Water alone will not remove the pomade which is great for the summertime as it's sweat-proof! You will need to use an oil-based eye makeup remover or Neutrogena makeup remover cleansing towelettes work great. I try not to use eye makeup remover on my brows because I tend to get dry there and feel that the oil-based remover makes my skin even drier.

PACKAGING

Who isn't a sucker for beautiful packaging?! I know I am. These pomades come packaged in a clear glass pot and have black with rose gold accent plastic twist-off caps; reminiscent of the MAC paint pots. I like the easy accessibility to the product that these pots offer but feel that the packaging is a bit heavy and bulky for traveling. They aren't very hygienic (if you plan on using it in your pro kit) compared to the squeeze tube of MUFE Aqua Brow is and if not securely tightened, they can dry out.

Although much product is not needed to achieve a look, the Anastasia Dipbrow Pomade only comes with 0.14oz of actual product. Whereas the MUFE Aqua Brow comes with more product at 0.23oz. It is comparable to the consistency of the Aqua Brow but I think the Dipbrow Pomade isa bit more pigmented.


SWATCHES

Swatches left to right: blonde, auburn, chocolate.

Blonde is an ash taupe made for blondes. I do wish it was a bit warmer though. I believe that a warmer shade for blondes will be released in the Fall. Blonde can also be used on darker hair to make your brows appear a bit lighter.

Auburn is a reddish warm brown. I am currently using this shade since it goes well with my hair color. Even if I haven't ligthened my brows (my natural hair color is black) it covers the hair very well.

Chocolate is a cool dark brown. I picked up this shade to add to my kit instead of ebony because it comes off pretty dark and figured I can always darken it on black hair with a shadow.

 

(Here I'm using Anastasia Dipbrow Pomade in Auburn on my brows)

Although there aren't many shades available you can mix them to create a desired color.

The Rundown
I'm really enjoying the Anastasia Dipbrow Pomade and haven't been using anything else since. I love the formula and application of these as well as the lasting power. Not having to use more than one product on my brows is a major plus because it knocks down the time I have to spend on them. I wish the other shades would have come out in the initial launch of this product though; I would have picked up the upcoming shades instead of these.

Availability: Nordstrom / Ulta / Sephora / Anastasia Beverly Hills
Price: $18 (.14oz)

Prada Candy Eau de Parfum Spray Review + Photos

Prada Candy Eau de Parfum Spray (2.7 oz)

Prada Candy Eau de Parfum Spray ($112, 2.7 0z) is a seductive fragrance that takes me back in time to those years as a little girl when I would breathe in the sweet scent of my mother as she got herself ready. It is very reminiscent of Thierry Mugel Angel although I prefer Prada Candy over Angel any day.

Candy is not to be mistaken with the mature motherly scent we are used to when thinking about our mothers. I wouldn't say it's a fragrance directed toward a young high-schooler, but instead aimed towards a more sophisticated woman in her late 20's-early 30's. At first spray, its sweet smell of benzoin fades after settling on your skin, leaving you with notes of sensual caramel vanilla musk.


 

Notes: Caramel, Musk, Vanilla, Benzoin.

Being that Candy is a parfum and not a toilette, it is more potent than a toilette spray so a little goes a long way. It is also more expensive than a Eau de Toilette because they have 10-20% of fragrant extract and oils while the other has less. You can get away with a couple of sprays of Candy that will linger on throughout the day. Using an Eau de Toilette may be less expensive but requires more sprays that will only last you a few hours. Candy is a bit pricey at $64, 1 oz; $84, 1.7 oz; $112, 2.7 oz. You can find it at Sephora and Ulta.

It's a great fragrance for the fall/winter since I can't see myself spraying this on a hot/humid summer day.




What first attracted me to this perfume was the sleek seductive packaging; with its gold, hot pink and black accents. Unlike most other perfumes it doesn't feature a cap. I actually like that for convenience and most times I tend to misplace my perfume caps. If you're worried about traveling with the bottle, don't fret. It comes with a safe traveling guard that attaches to the neck of the spray top to prevent it from accidentally being sprayed.

Another nice feature is that the hose is practically invisible. You need to look closely at the bottle to actually notice that it's inside. This makes the packaging more sophisticated in appearance.

The Rundown
Although I am a fan of its sweet scent, I don't see myself repurchasing it. It is quite pricey and there are many other fragrances I've been wanting to try out such as Viktor & Rolf Flowerbomb. Candy is a perfume I will generally use at night for a special occasion. I have been enjoying the scent but would like to venture out and try others. Throughout the day I'm currently reaching for Lady Gaga Fame which is harder to find as it's been discontinued in stores.

Have you tried Prada Candy? What is your favorite perfume?

Availability: Nordstrom
Price: $112, 2.7 oz