First Look| Sephora VIB Rouge Chic Week Haul

Yeah, I said I wouldn't haul no mo. I lied.

Sephora's Chic Week is going on right now where VIB Rouge, VIB, and Beauty Insider members get 15% off their entire purchase. Of course, Clinique was doing a gift with purchase I couldn't resist, so I also picked up some items from their counter. If you're stuck on what to get during the sale, maybe some of my "extraneous shit" might do just fine or serve as inspiration to haul.

Clockwise: TOCCA Brigitte, Stila Stay All Day eyeliner in Intense Black, MUFE 130 brush, Dior Diorskin Nude Foundation in 21 and 31, Clinique Cheek Pop in Ginger Pop, Givenchy Le Rouge in Beige Plume 102, Ole Henriksen Truth Serum Collagen Booster, Clinique Dramatically Different Moisturizing Lotion.

TOCCA Brigitte ($68 retail)- I've been pining and lusting after this for a year but never got around to purchasing. The husband didn't like how it smelled in store, but the scent mellows out on my skin beautifully and the hint of spice and sweetness drives me crazy.

Stila Stay All Day liner in Intense Black ($20)- Backup. I don't trust drugstore liners anymore after using this. It never skips, flakes, or smudges on me. 

MUFE 130 Powder Brush ($55)- I originally saw this online and didn't go through with the purchase because I wasn't sure how it would perform. I needed a powder brush that would let me set my liquid foundation with a powder (duh) but wasn't too loosely or densely packed. When you feel it in person, you'll understand why I ignored the price tag. It's nicely packed and super super ultra frickin omg SOFT. 

Dior Diorskin Nude Foundation ($49)- I went into Macy's to return my Shiseido Dual Balancing Foundation (emphasized my dry patches and flakes) and sat down at the Dior counter to get color matched for the Nude Foundation. I wanted something medium coverage with a satin-dewy finish and this fits the bill. I even went back into Sephora to pick up shade 21 for the winter!

Clinique Cheek Pop in Ginger Pop ($21)- I figured since Ginger Pop was selling out like crazy it was one to try out. It's a very lovely sun-tan color on my skin, if that makes sense. Sort of similar to "I just spent an hour in the sun without sunscreen, whoops" but prettier. 

Givenchy Le Rouge in Beige Plume 102 ($36)- Though its supposed to be a matte formula, this one had more slip and felt more moisturizing than I expected. The color is halfway between a nude and a MLBB shade on me.

Ole Henriksen Truth Serum Collagen Booster ($48)- A lot of YTers have been liking this, and I'm not sure if I trust them to be non-sponsored, but this stuff does sound promising. I'm looking to try out the best Vit C serums and get rid of (or at least fade) my broken capillaries and dark spots. 

Clinique Dramatically Different Moisturizing Lotion ($26)- Finally, I revisited an old favorite moisturizer of mine. Growing up in San Jose I had very dry to normal skin that did just fine with only this moisturizer every morning and night. Now that I am more SPF conscious, this lotion will probably stay a night thang. I also like it for touching up (is that weird?) over my foundation if I find dry patches. The best part is how reasonably priced it is! 

I did go into a brick and mortar store to get swatches and samples, and the only thing I couldn't bring myself to purchase was the Urban Decay Electric palette. But really, when would I ever reach for it? Maybe one time on Halloween? I decided against it, but in the back of my mind it's still calling out to me....

What did you haul for Chic Week? 

xo Be

Review| Le Rouge Givenchy (202 Rose Dressing/304 Mandarine Bolero)

Though I may haul many and often, I have a hard time justifying spending close to 40 dollars for a single tube of lipstick...which is why these were generously given to me via multiswap on MakeupAlley. I've always been curious to see if the price point of a lipstick determines its performance. 

These Le Rouges from Givenchy retails for 36 dollars which to me is about two dinners for two in Garden Grove. Never mind the fact that Tom Ford sells his lipsticks for close to 50 dollars. Good lord, that sounds like an expensive addiction...much like cocaine...fleeting and costly?

Encased in real leather and a metallic closure thingie (I have no clue how to describe it other than the fact that it does snap shut), these lipsticks are fancier than you'll ever be. Look at that logo etched onto the lipstick itself. Absolutely and pointlessly luxurious. 

As for performance? 

Texture: A little bit on the matte side and can cling to dry patches. It's best that you exfoliate and moisturize well. It won't peel your lips off like a matte formula from MAC, but it's not flattering nonetheless. It doesn't drag on the lips, which is a huge surprise.

Color: The color payoff is awesome, as expected for a matte formula. It lasted through 4 hours of wear, a hearty bowl of pho, and my manic impulse to rub my lips together constantly. It also reapplied very well and didn't look patchy afterwards when it faded. I absolutely love these two colors for my olive complexion. 304 Madarin Bolero is the perfect coral red for spring and summer, rivaling my MAC Lady Danger. 202 Rose Dressing is the perfect "uptight but polished" color that's perfect for work. 

Smell: Sadly, the smell and taste of these babies are very off-putting. The smell is not pungent but the taste is pure plastic heaven. If you enjoyed munching on glue as a child, this may bring back good memories. 

I feel super grateful that an MUA swapped this with me, but I feel like brand imaging was strong with this one. Overall, they lasted well but I dreaded re-application time once it came. As fancy as the tube was and as rich-betch as I felt pulling it out of my Coach handbag, it tasted like dollar store crayon. 

So, do you think I should venture into Tom Ford next? I feel like there is criticism on the market for these Le Rouges, but everyone and their mom digs $TF. 

xo Be