NEW IN // Bobbi Brown Art Sticks

Finally! A chubby pencil to fill the void. Not only does Bobbi Brown's newest lip offering provide a bold answer to the hoards of chubby sticks cropping up on the market, but also a tip of the hat to gals who love lipstick. Count me in!

Bobbi Brown's Art Sticks are masterful multitaskers, not unlike the makeup artist who created them. They're waxy enough to act as useful lipliners, unlike some others I've tried, while still being moisturizing enough to wear comfortably all over the lips. Make no mistake--these guys don't budge. Transfer a bit, maybe, but your lips will be embraced in a semi-matte, satiny finish in your choice of eight shades until you decide to call it a night. I liken the look to Chanel's Rouge Allure Velvets or to Givenchy's Le Rouge Sensuously Mattes (my review on the latter here).

As I mentioned, Bobbi launched this lovely new product in eight shades, all of which I swatched in-store so you don't have to.

And with flash, so you get a sense of how they photograph:

Of course, such beautiful, wearable and on-trend shades are always ready for their close=up!

I immediately gravitated towards Dusty Pink, an unsurprising move considering that pinky nudes are a go-to for my everyday lip look. It is a fabulous, understated everyday pink that would make a lovely MLBB for some people. For my über-pale complexion, Dusty Pink's somewhere between an MLBB and a work-appropriate pink. A bit more dramatic than a true neutral, but not "electric" like its sister shade, Electric Pink. As you might be able to tell from the close-up, the pigmentation is stellar across the board, with one unfortunate exception: Cherrywood. The swatch you see above is after three or four determined passes, as opposed to the breezy swatch-and-go nature of the other shades. I was disappointed, as, I could see Cherrywood having great potential for darker skin tones or porcelain-skinned gals going for a Lorde-y look. Maybe it was just one bad egg...with the track record of the other shades, I'm willing to give it the benefit of the doubt!

Here's the best part: even though the pencil's not retractable like Tarte's and Revlon's offerings, a handy, sturdy sharpener designed especially for the Art Sticks comes with each pencil. No obnoxious "sharpener sold separately" gimmick. Thank goodness!

I have to say, as someone who lines her lips for almost every lipstick application, I am incredibly impressed with this recent release. So impressed, in fact, that I had to run out and buy Electric Pink the day after I purchased Dusty Pink! I've still got my eye on a few others, and I can see these becoming a pretty big hit, so grab 'em while they're hot (and in stock!) I purchased both of mine from Bloomingdale's, but you can also find the Art Sticks online and in stores at Nordstrom, Neiman Marcus, Bobbi Brown (of course) and now--just in time for Chic Week--Sephora, too!

Katy xx

THE REVIEW // Givenchy Le Rouge + LORAC On Sale!

Hi there!

As promised, I'm here with a review and swatches of the latest addition to my lipstick hoard collection, Givenchy's Le Rouge! This particular beauty is special, as it's part of the four-piece, limited edition "Le Rouge Intense Color Sensuously Matte" (boy, that's a mouthful!) collection released under the Le Rouge line. From what I understand, the formula is the same, but the packaging is even better than the silky black lambskin donned by the "regular" Le Rouges. Just look at that silvery goodness!

I will note that, while the shade I chose (Rose d'Exception) and one other has a silvered case, the other two in the Sensuously Matte quartet have gilded packaging. Trust me, they are both lookers!

Now, I must admit that this little lippie was not an impulse buy--no, it was quite premeditated. I had been practically salivating over the creamy, long-lasting formula of the Le Rouge family almost since its inception! Unfortunately, the nude offerings in the line didn't cut it for me--neither did the pinks. I was devastated! They were too warm, and the nudes pulled brownish on my icy complexion. Even with that packaging, I couldn't justify $36 for a shade I didn't love. I frowned incessantly, until I came across--could it be?--a pinky, almost a lilac nude (if that's a thing), in the form of Rose d'Exception. Perfection has a number, ladies, and it's 206! Here are some swatches for proof:

Flash, indoor, and natural lighting, respectively. It's not like this shade is brand-new--in fact, I'd swatched it in-store months back, but somehow, that past incarnation of myself could not appreciate Rose d'Exception in all her glory. I'm still shaking my head at past Katy for that one.

Anyhow, in case you were still gawking at the $36 price tag, allow me to wipe away your wallet's tears, because this baby is a worthwhile investment. I admit, I've been lured in by one thing or another and purchased a product (or six) for the wrong reasons, but Givenchy provides the whole package--literally. Apart from its looks, I can assert that Le Rouge outperforms most high-end formulas, and stands proudly on my vanity next to my two other HGs--Guerlain and YSL. It's impossibly creamy, it wears well and, unlike the luxurious case it calls home, it's pretty lightweight on the lips, which is a plus. Here is Rose d'Exception on my lips:

It's a shame that the shade range has remained so limited, but I'm pretty sure that won't stop me from acquiring a playmate for Rosie in the near future. I've had my eye on Magnolia Organza (from the permanent line) for a while, though I think she might feel underdressed next to a companion like this! ;)

The Givenchy Le Rouge Intense Color Sensuously Matte Lipstick collection is exclusive to Sephora. Each of the four shades can be purchased in stores and online.

Katy xx

P.S. If you've been dying to try LORAC's 3D Liquid Lustres, now's your chance! As per the title of this post, check out Hautelook.com from now until Thursday for some LORAC goodies at great discounts.