Sothys Spring/Summer Collection ~ Review + Swatches

Hello beauties! It's been a hot minute since I posted and I think an explanation is needed. I wish I had an exciting excuse (ahem reason) but I don't. I've been feeling uninspired and it's been crazy hot so I haven't worn much makeup lately. I've also done the unthinkable and have been spending more time offline - yes you read that right.  I've been enjoying the real world and sorry, not sorry. Sometimes a girls gotta stop and smell the roses, swim in all the pools and just soak up the sun (with sunscreen on, obviously).

But as they say absence makes the heart grow fonder, and I've missed you all. As I ease my way back into regular posting, I thought I would share a short and sweet review of Sothys Spring/Summer Collection.

Sothys Spring/Summer Collection takes inspiration from Sothys garden and the super greens trend that showcases lush nature and an invitation to freshness. Personally I don't see the connection, but I must admit I do like the shade choices!

Ombre Sothys - Eye Quartette ($68.50) contains four new complimentary shades that can be used dry or moist, separately or in harmony. Each shade is iridescent and they are easily buildable and blendable. Although I like the shades, I don't find them to be the most exciting. I really wish that there were a matte transition shade because without it, this quad just feels incomplete. The shadows are quite nice and they wear well with minimal creasing or fading which is super important.

Sothys has two lipsticks in this collection, one satin and one matte. They look very similar in swatches and in real life as well. The main difference is that Rouge Intense Sothys 235 Rouge Roseraie ($35.95) has a semi opaque, satin finish whereas Rouge Mat Sothys 330 Orange Escapade Velours ($35.95) is more opaque, kind of matte and a touch warmer. The tone difference is super subtle so I wouldn't focus too much on it. For those who aren't makeup addicted, I recommend picking your finish preference as they are so similar in colour. Both wear well and are definitely comfortable. Sothys does lipstick well. Really well. They taste good, glide on and feel so amazing plus they wear for hours.

There are a few other items in this collection that are not included in my review; The Calligraphy Eyeliner ($33.50), Sun Glow Bronzing Powder ($61.50) and a Nail Lacquer ($19). Although I haven't tried these particular items, I will say that from experience,  Sothys nail polish is quite good (review here).

Sothys Spring/Summer Collection can be found in Institute and Spas throughout Canada. To find the location nearest you, call toll-free 1-800-361-3004

*Press samples were generously provided to me for editorial consideration. All opinions are my own.

Guerlain's KissKiss Liplift, KissKiss Matte & Intense Liquid Matte

Hello beauties! As I'm sure you recall, back in September I attended Dave Lackie's #GuerlainLover dinner (recap of the event can be found here). In classic Dave Lackie fashion, all the guests received an amazing gift bag. Today, I'm sharing my thoughts on the lip products we received.

Before I talk about the products, I thought I'd share a bit about the brand. Guerlain is a luxury French beauty brand founded in 1828. From the start and to this day, Guerlain produces all of their products in France. The Guerlain House has been awarded the "Living Heritage Company" label by the French Ministry for Economy and Industry, a testament to the rich history of the brand. I could go on about Guerlain's history, but I'm going to jump right into my reviews.

"The indispensable partner to lipstick, the KissKiss Liplift smoothing base in stick form redefines your lip contour, smoothes and prepares the lips for long-lasting make-up. With its creamy, rich and supple texture and neutral translucent shade, it preserves and enhances the colour of your lipstick.

Lips are smooth and silky soft. Their contour is more defined. Lipstick is easy to apply. It offers lasting hold for guaranteed high-fidelity make-up without feathering." /source/ 

The Guerlain KissKiss Liplift Smoothing Lipstick Primer ($44, 1.85g) comes housed in an exquisite, golden bullet. As the name suggests, it's a primer for your lips. To maximize its efficacy, apply it on your lips (prior to lipstick) slightly beyond your lip contour and blend in with your fingertips.

KissKiss Liplift Smoothing Lipstick Primer has a subtle vanilla-violet and berries scent, and it applies transparent. It feels smooth and balm like. I noticed it made my lipstick apply much smoother and it wore longer.

"Guerlain imagines KissKiss Matte, a hydrating and plumping matte lipstick, intense like a lipstick and comfortable like a balm! The subtle spice extract it contains gives the impression of voluminous lips while the precious oils and the hyaluronic acid smooth and hydrate them. KissKiss Matte offers 9 captivating shades for all special occasions. The iconic packaging is adorned with a golden matte veil."

Guerlain KissKiss Matte ($44, 3.5g) is housed in the same iconic tube as the original KissKiss, but it's matte (and gold). How fitting! There are 9 shades available and I was gifted the shade M330 Spicy Burgundy. This shade of red is universally flattering to most skin tones, plus it's literally the perfect shade for fall!

KissKiss Matte Lipstick applies smoothly and feels super comfortable on the lips. It's long-wearing, but not transfer proof. I can usually get about 6 hours of wear before I need to touch it up. It lasts longer when paired with the KissKiss Liplift Smoothing Lipstick Primer.

"Guerlain invents Intense liquid Matte: a smoothing matte liquid lipstick that’s easy to apply: creamy like a gloss and pigmented like a lipstick, with a stunning matte finish. A smoothing texture, which gives to the lips a highly pigmented and long lasting plumping look. The formula based on hyaluronic acid and tiger grass ensures a soft and enjoyable sensation. Seven captivating shades have been created for every mood."

 /source/

Guerlain Intense Liquid Matte Creamy Velvet Lipcolour ($40, 7ml) is available in 7 hydrating shades. I was gifted M71 Exciting Pink and I love it! This liquid lipstick applies very much like a gloss, but opaque and (mostly) matte. The doe-foot applicator makes lining and filling the lips easy and the colour dries down true to the shade in the tube. If you're looking for a luxe liquid lipstick that not only looks pretty but wears beautifully, I highly recommend you check these out!

You can find these and other Guerlain products Canada wide at Hudson's Bay, Sephora and Nordstrom.

*These products were generously gifted to me at Dave Lackie's #GuerlainLover event ❤

Sothys Paris Fall-Winter Makeup Collection ~ Review + Swatches

Sothys Paris is a new-to-me Parisian brand that is exclusively available in spas. I've been testing out their fall makeup collection, and I have to admit, I'm quite impressed! This collection features the essentials (eyeshadow, blush, lipstick and nail polish) and there were a few stand out items for me.

The Smoky Eye Duo ($48.50) is a contour eye pencil set available in two shades - Zinc Grey and Plum. The pencils are pigmented, creamy, blendable and effortless to apply. I applied them without primer and they stayed put the whole day without any creasing. Amazing!

The Velvet Effect Lipstick ($35.95) is a beautiful classic red. The packaging is understated, however, the lipstick is embossed with Sothys which makes it look very chic. It also comes in a cute velvet pouch which adds a nice touch. The lipstick applies smoothly and has opaque coverage with two swipes. It has a velvet feel and a matte finish that stays put on my lips for around 3-4 hours before I need to touch it up (sooner if I eat) and it's non-drying.

The Nail Lacquer ($18.50) is a show-stopping red that matches the Velvet Effect Lipstick perfectly. It's easy to apply and opaque - one coat is doable, but two coats looks best. I found it to dry rather quickly and it has a beautiful high-shine finish. What impressed me most about this nail polish is how durable it is and how long it lasts.

I typically don't get much more than a day out of polish before it starts to chip - my hands go through a lot in a day (kids, dishes, cleaning, etc). With Sothys Nail Lacquer, I was able to go 2 (almost 3) days before it started to wear off. That might not sound like a long time, but for me it is. I highly recommend this nail polish!

Sothys Paris is available in Institute and Spas throughout Canada. To find a location closest to you, call this toll-free number 1-800-361-3004

*Press samples were kindly provided for editorial consideration. All opinions are my own.