96 UTOPIA CHANEL ILLUSION D'OMBRE EYESHADOW - SWATCHES AND REVIEW

96 Utopia is a limited edition Chanel Illusion D'Ombre long wear luminous eyeshadow from the 2014 Summer collection REFLETS D’ÉTÉ DE CHANEL. To read more about the entire collection check out the link below. Utopia is a shimmery light purple cream eyeshadow with silver sparkle. It doesn't apply as evenly as previous Chanel cream eyeshadows - it seemed drier and less pliable.
It tended to pill (or clump together) which made it harder to get an even all over application of Utopia. The wear time for Utopia is on par with the other Chanel Illusion D'Ombre cream eyeshadows. It lasted for about six to seven hours wear time before creasing. Also, be sure to always apply an eyeshadow primer underneath the cream eyeshadow and use thin applications when applying the cream eyeshadow onto the eyelid to lessen the chances of them creasing. 

The Chanel Illusion D'Ombre long wear luminous eyeshadows are currently priced at $36.00 USD and contain .14 oz of product. They are available for purchase at most major department stores such as Nordstrom and Belk.

Check out the whole Chanel Summer collection here: REFLETS D’ÉTÉ DE CHANEL 2014 SUMMER COLLECTION

CHANEL LES BEIGES COLLECTION SUMMER 2014

This innovative, versatile makeup gives you the freedom to show your glow for any season, any occasion. The sheer, natural powder can be worn alone or over foundation, while a new multi-shade palette offers healthy colour with an effortless touch. Enhance, brighten or bronze and create your customized look.

Chanel Les Beiges Collection Summer 2014

Available May 5, 2014 at select department store counters
U.S. Launch Date – mid May 2014

Les Beiges / Healthy Glow Multi-Colour Broad Spectrum SPF 15 Sunscreen – $65.00 USD (These are already available at select counters!)

Lightweight, multi-stripe powder offers a palette of effortless effects. Acts as a highlighter, sculpting powder, bronzer and blush — all with a sheer, natural finish and broad-spectrum sun protection.

N°01 (Limited Edition)

N°02 (Limited Edition)

Les Beiges / Healthy Glow Hydrating Lip Balm – $35.00 USD
(Chanel may not release the lip balms this year or could possibly be exclusive to the US only) 

N°10 - Fresh Violine (Limited Edition)
N°20 - Pink (Limited Edition)
N°30 - Cherry Red (Limited Edition) 

Les Beiges Retractable Kabuki Brush - $70.00 USD

The ideal accessory for a natural glow, this retractable makeup brush caresses the face with soft, soothing bristles while delivering a smooth and polished result. Perfectly portable, the synthetic-fiber brush adds allover colour or simplifies touch-ups on the go. (Currently available on the Chanel website)

Les Beiges/ All-In-One Healthy Glow Fluid Broad Spectrum SPF 15 Sunscreen – $45.00 USD (These may not be released until late May)

N°10
N°20
N°30
N°40
N°60

Les Beiges / Healthy Glow Sheer Colour Broad Spectrum SPF 15 Sunscreen – $57.50 USD

N°10 (Repromote)

N°20 (Repromote)

N°30 (Repromote)

N°40 (Repromote)

N°50 (Repromote)

N°60 (Repromote)

N°70 (Repromote)

BOBBI BROWN and KATIE HOLMES MINI BRUSH SET - Limited Edition

What makes chocolate even more irresistible? A shot of Bobbi's favorite - bright pink. Designed to complement this season's chocolatey hues and the Bobbi and Katie Collection, this double-sided bag fits tools on one side and your favorite makeup on the other. Featuring full-sized brush heads atop shortened cocoa-colored handles (for seamless makeup application even on the go). This Mini Brush Set includes four brushes: Face Blender, Eye Shadow, Eye Sweep, and Smokey Eye Liner - all in a zippered pouch done up with a hot pink ribbon pull.

For quite some time I have been on the hunt for good quality travel makeup brushes. Every year MAC releases sets of their makeup brushes but I haven't really been impressed with the quality of them and the bristles are just way too scratchy! Several other makeup brands have travel brushes as well, but with a starting price of $100 I can't see myself spending that kind of money. Although at $65 for this set, that is still quite expensive.

The dual zippered vinyl makeup bag is big and roomy. It can definitely hold a fair amount of cosmetics comfortably and the various mini compartments are nice as well. I can see myself using those compartments to hold smaller items that typically get forgotten or lost at the bottom of my purse.

When I first saw the brush set my initial reaction / first thought was "OMG, they are so small!". I know that travel brushes are typically a smaller version of the full size brushes but these seemed significantly smaller. Now keep in mind the brushes do have full-size brush heads but it is the handles that are significantly smaller than your typical travel brush set. Hopefully the quality of the brushes will make up for the small brush size.

The quality of the brushes was actually quite superb. The bristles were extremely soft and there was minimal shedding. It did take some time getting use to the short brush handles but the brush application was on par with their full size counterparts. Overall this is a nice set but I don't think I would repurchase it in the future. I just can't get past the really small brush handles. Additionally, it would have been nice to see a lip brush included with this set.

108 LARGE FOUNDATION MAKE UP FOR EVER ARTISAN BRUSH

MAKE UP FOR EVER just released a new line of Artisan (makeup) brushes and they are amazing! I was in Sephora yesterday when I spotted the brown wooden handles from across the store. These lightweight brushes are easy to handle and just as gorgeous in person as they look in the promo pics.

ARTISAN BRUSHES
100 SERIES - Face brushes
200 SERIES - Eye brushes
300 SERIES - Lip brushes
400 SERIES - Body and Artistic brushes

The 108 large foundation brush currently retails for $36.00 USD which is a little on the cheap side considering this is the LARGE version - the 106 medium foundation brush retails for the same price. The synthetic fibers of the brush are extremely soft and allow for a smooth and streak-free application of my liquid foundation. I didn't notice any stray fibers or shedding on my face which is a huge plus in my book. The brush fibers did soak up some of the liquid foundation but it was minimal at best. The wooden handle of the brush seems to be hollow near the end with the weight of the brush centered at the middle where the metal ferrule meets the handle. Most makeup brushes that I own, the weight is distributed evenly along the brush handle so this is a welcome change. Although others might find it takes them some time to get comfortable using them. Overall I am really impressed with the quality of this brush.

When applying your foundation, Sephora suggests dotting your face with your liquid foundation and then using this brush to blend it in - which works great! However, what I find works best for me, is to dispense a small amount of liquid foundation onto a sanitary surface and then dip my makeup brush into the foundation. Then I apply and blend it into my face with the end result being a beautiful and flawless foundation application.

When it comes to maintaining and cleaning the MAKE UP FOR EVER ARTISAN brushes it is very important to purchase the brush cleanser as well. It is specially formulated specifically for these synthetic fiber brushes. The travel size currently retails at $12.00 USD for 1.69 oz.

The Make Up For Ever Artisan brushes are currently available at all Sephora stores and online at Sephora.com.

What it is:
A large flat and rounded brush to quickly and evenly apply foundation.

What it does:
This must-have brush is used to apply and blend all kinds of foundation quickly on large areas. Its large, rounded shape and straight bristles are ideal for a high coverage, even foundation result. It can be used with liquid and cream foundations.

What else you need to know:
After five years in development with makeup artists and fiber experts, MAKE UP FOR EVER Artisan Brushes are a revolution in brush craftsmanship. The 100-percent fiber brushes are available in a range of 76 handcrafted styles, each with the perfect balance of straight and wavy fibers that replicate natural hairs. Beveled tips create a two-in-one makeup brush and tool, while innovative hair density and brush head shapes optimize every stroke for ideal makeup application. To achieve the ultimate collection, every brush has gone through 25 production stages by 30 craftsmen and has been checked for quality 50 times.

-Dot your favorite liquid or cream foundation through the center of the face and use the flat side of the brush to blend downward and outward.

**IMPORTANT TO NOTE**

If you are making an in-store brush purchase please be sure to carefully look over the brush for defects or anything out of the ordinary. As you can see below, there is a small gap where the metal ferrule meets the wooden brush handle. It is only on one side but repeated use with this brush could allow for dust, water, makeup, etc. to accumulate around the opening and damage the integrity of the brush handle.

What it is:
An alcohol-free brush cleanser that instantly purifies and removes all make up textures.

What it does:
Perfect for synthetic and natural hair brushes, Travel Instant Brush Cleanser cleans quickly without rinsing and dries on the spot so brushes are ready for immediate reuse. Its unique formula dissolves even the most waterproof and highly pigmented products while refreshing brushes with a mint-oil extract.

Sephora is the exclusive beauty retailer for this product.

How to use:
-Spray Travel Instant Brush Cleanser on a tissue and wipe brush.
-Repeat if necessary.
-Use a dry tissue to remove excess cleanser from the brush.