UPCOMING SEPHORA VIB ROUGE EVENT - AUG 3rd, 2014

Start making those shopping lists! Sephora is hosting a special 2 hour VIB Rouge event this Sunday, August 3rd, 2014. Shop during the closed-door party or if you can't make the event then shop anytime from Aug 3rd to Aug 10th to earn 4 times the beauty points. Not a VIB Rouge member? No worries, during this week-long event VIB insiders will earn triple points and Beauty Insiders will earn double the points. 

VIB Rouge Members please be sure to RSVP for the VIB Rouge event by Aug 1st and check with your local Sephora store because they will have different times for the event depending on their specific location.

Here is the RSVP link: SEPHORA VIB ROUGE EVENT RSVP

For those VIB Rouge members attending this exclusive event, a special makeup bag full of samples will be available for those making a $35 or more purchase. This kinda sucks that we have to make a purchase just to receive the makeup bag. Don't get me wrong - I appreciate Sephora hosting a VIB Rouge event and I know I will rack up a ton of points - but seriously? We have already spent well over 1K to become VIB Rouge members and now we have to make a $35 purchase just to get the makeup bag. It just seems a bit extreme is all I'm saying. Anyway, keep reading for the disclosures below.

DISCLOSURES (fine print)

*Select Sephora stores will have different hours; only select Sephora inside JCPenney stores will have closed-door shopping events. Check this site for participating stores and exact times. Sephora locations in Canada will be holding this event on Wednesday August 6th from 7-9pm. Click here to RSVP to a location in Canada.

**Qualified VIB Rouge will earn quadruple points, VIBs will earn triple points and Beauty Insiders will earn double points on merchandise purchases made Sunday August 3, 2014 thru Sunday August 10, 2014 at 11:59pm PDT. This offer is subject to termination by Sephora in its discretion at any time.Bonus points will be automatically credited to your BI Accounts the same day of purchase. Points not earned on sales tax, shipping, Sephora gift cards, eGift certificates and prior purchases. This offer is subject to termination by Sephora in its discretion at any time.

† Sephora Cosmetic Bag with samples and Rouge Tote Bag are only available in Sephora stores during the VIB Rouge Reception with any merchandise purchase of $35 USD or more. Limit of one of each offer per VIB Rouge client, non-transferable. Guests of VIB Rouge that are Beauty insiders are also eligible to redeem the Sephora Makeup Bag with samples with any merchandise purchase of $35 USD or more, limit one per client. Valid while supplies last, quantities are limited, sample bag assortment may vary. Not valid on previous purchases, or purchases of eGift certificates and gift cards. Sephora employees are not eligible for offers. No returns or exchanges. These offers are subject to change, alteration or termination by Sephora in its sole discretion at any time.

13 ORCHID HAZE TOM FORD EYE COLOR QUAD - SWATCHES AND REVIEW

I was recently in the market for a Tom Ford eyeshadow quad. I had been wanting to try them ever since their launch several years back; I believe in late 2011. But let's face it, Tom Ford is quite an expensive brand. The eyeshadow quads are a little on the price-y side with a current retail price of $79.00 USD and they contain about .35 oz of product. The luxurious packaging is quite nice as well. Each quad (which are quite hefty) are stored in a brown suede pouch, feature a magnetic closure, have an enclosed mirror and contain two dual ended makeup applicators. Whether the price is justifiable or not the packaging and design sure make it look like its worth it.

Well after much consideration I finally went with 13 Orchid Haze. I was drawn to this quad because it houses a unique assortment of eyeshadows: (top left) a shimmery warm peach, (top right) a shimmery taupe, (bottom left) a medium pink mauve, and (bottom right) a dark matte eggplant. Each of these shades can be worn alone or all together and still look amazing. I can definitely see myself getting a lot of uses out of this quad and the shades are very complimentary to many skintones.

234 POESIE CHANEL LES 4 OMBRES MULTI-EFFECT QUADRA EYESHADOW - SWATCHES AND REVIEW

234 Poesie is a new Chanel Les 4 Ombres Multi-Effect eyeshadow quad. In addition to the limited edition Poesie, Chanel released eight new quads reformulated without talc and with a longer lasting eyeshadow formula. Check out the link below to read about the entire collection. These new quads are extremely pigmented and typically last a total wear time of eight to ten hours. The quads currently retail for $61.00 USD and they contain .07 oz of product.

The Poesie quad is described as a mixture of brown, beige, pink, and burgundy colors. The top right shade is more of a warm golden beige, the top left shade is a medium brown, the bottom right shade is a dark brown with slight reddish plum undertones and the bottom left shade is a pale pink. This quad has excellent color payoff, lasted a wear time of twelve hours with no creasing and only required an eyeshadow base for a vibrant application. The more I have used these new quads I am finding that a good eyeshadow base can really bring out the vibrant color more so than using them wet.

Final thoughts - I had the opportunity to see and swatch all nine of the quads this past week. They are all gorgeous and offer an array of color combinations to choose from. Some of the newer quads look similar to the older quads which is true but the formula for these make them a must have (no more chalky formula!). They also look and swatch better in person so if you have the opportunity it is worth the trip to check them out.

Check out the other quads here: CHANEL LES 4 OMBRES MULTI-EFFECT EYESHADOW QUADS

Check out Tisse Cambon here: 228 TISSE CAMBON CHANEL LES 4 OMBRES MULTI-EFFECT QUADRA EYESHADOW - SWATCHES AND REVIEW

Check out Tisse Vendome here: 204 TISSE VENDOME CHANEL LES 4 OMBRES MULTI-EFFECT QUADRA EYESHADOW - SWATCHES AND REVIEW

Check out Tisse Camelia here: 202 TISSE CAMELIA CHANEL LES 4 OMBRES MULTI-EFFECT QUADRA EYESHADOW - SWATCHES AND REVIEW

Check out Tisse Rivoli here: 226 TISSE RIVOLI CHANEL LES 4 OMBRES MULTI-EFFECT QUADRA EYESHADOW - SWATCHES AND REVIEW

JUST A WISP MAC MINERALIZE BLUSH - SWATCHES AND REVIEW

JUST A WISP is a new frosty pale pink mineralize blush. It was released about two months ago when MAC unveiled their newly repackaged mineralize blushes. There were two new shades released with the relaunch: New Romance and Just A Wisp and I purchased both shades (check out the link below for New Romance). The mineralized blushes currently retail for $27.00 USD and they contain .10 oz of product. Wear time for Just A Wisp was about eight hours with slight fading and significant fading after ten hours.

Check out New Romance here: NEW ROMANCE MAC MINERALIZE BLUSH - SWATCHES AND REVIEW

204 TISSE VENDOME CHANEL LES 4 OMBRES MULTI-EFFECT QUADRA EYESHADOW - SWATCHES AND REVIEW

CHANEL 204 TISSE VENDOME quad is a collection of warm peaches and browns. It is part of the new Les 4 Ombres Multi-Effect Quadra eyeshadows that were just launched by Chanel (check out the link below to read more about them). There are a total of eight permanent shades in this collection. There is an additional limited edition bonus quad, Poesie, which will be released ahead of the entire collection at select department stores. While other department stores will release the collection including the limited edition bonus quad in its entirety all at once.

These new multi-effect quads are gorgeous, extremely pigmented and so easy to use and wear. Each quad contains two medium shades for color and contouring, a darker shade for more intensity and a lighter shade to highlight. In the Tisse Vendome quad the top right shade is a frosty pale gold with a satin finish and peach undertones. The top left is a warm tan brown although it looks like a light smokey grey brown in the pan. The bottom right is a medium dark brown and the bottom left is a beautiful frosty peach apricot shade. Each of these eyeshadows has a depth and color variation that is quite unique.

The formula for Tisse Vendome is unbelievably soft and build-able. As more pressure is applied the color intensity increases even more so when used wet. Although when used dry the color is still exceptional. The wear time for this quad was ten hours with minimal fading.

Check out the other quads here: CHANEL LES 4 OMBRES MULTI-EFFECT EYESHADOW QUADS

Check out Tisse Cambon here: 228 TISSE CAMBON CHANEL LES 4 OMBRES MULTI-EFFECT QUADRA EYESHADOW - SWATCHES AND REVIEW

NEW ROMANCE MAC MINERALIZE BLUSH - SWATCHES AND REVIEW

MAC recently repackaged their mineralize blushes. The formula for these are similar to the previous versions and MAC has released two new shades: New Romance and Just A Wisp (I purchased both). It is important to note the texture of the newer versions of the MAC mineralize blushes seem to be a tad bit more powdery and the champagne shimmer seems a bit more intense.

New Romance is a warm shimmery mineralized peach blush that boasts a wear time of seven to eight hours before fading. It currently retails for $27.00 USD which is a significant price increase from the last time I purchased one of these (I think I paid either $22 or $25) and it contains .10 oz of product. Although, according to the box, the MAC website and the Nordstrom website they all list the mineralize blushes as having .11 oz of product. Overall these are nice to have for illuminating the face or for highlighting the cheek area but they are not unique enough to make them a "Must Have".