Burberry 206 Blueberry Lip Mist Sheer Lipstick

I'm not ready yet to do a comprehensive summary of this season's sheer lipstick trend, and definitely not going to pick a favorite just yet (basically, I like them all for different reasons). But I have a feeling that if I ever get to that point, Burberry Lip Mist sheer lipsticks are going to be pretty high there. I still need a day or so with no. 205, Rosy Red, so more on that tomorrow, but I can tell you that Blueberry, no. 206, is a winner.

Blueberry is probably not the best name for this Burberry lipstick, because it's almost exactly the color of red grapes. On my arm it leans brown, but since my lips are naturally a very dark rose, a lot of it comes through and the result is an easy to wear, daytime and office-friendly plummish color. It's pretty, goes with just about everything (though I admit I haven't worn it with an orange dress and I'm not likely to do it) and is simply a great lipstick.

The texture is different than any of the other ones I've collected so far (Laura Mercier, Dior, Chanel and I'm probably forgetting a few). Burberry Lip Mist has a very low-key glossy finish and it applies like a regular lipstick (vs. the gel-like texture of Laura Mercier). The lasting time is less than Burberry's regular lipsticks but better than most glosses. The main difference between Burberry Mist and Chanel Rouge Coco Shine is that Chanel dark colors leave a very long lasting stain on the lips while the shine is quick to disappear. Burberry Lip Mist has a lot more pigment on application, but it goes away almost completely after the first cup of tea or gradually wears off in about two hours. The level of coverage and pigmentation can be built- there's a distinct difference between one coat and two. I prefer not to do more than two- If I want lots of coverage I'd rather use a hard core lipstick.

Before I forget- those who object to the scent of Burberry regular lipsticks would probably want to stay away from the Mists as well. They smell the same: perfumy and makeup (which I kind of like, and find that it disappears quickly after application).

Bottom Line: As nice as it looks.

Burberry Lip Mist Sheer Lipsticks ($30) are a Nordstrom exclusive, online and in select locations.

All photos are mine.

Burberry Lip Mist Sheer Lipstick- Sneak Peek

Here's a quick sneak peek of the new Burberry Lip Mist Sheer Lipsticks: Rosy Red and Blueberry (there are seven more shades, significantly lighter). There'll be a proper review with more photos once I give them a thorough testing, but so far I can say this trendy addition to Burberry's lipstick line looks very promising, with reasonable staying power and a buildable coverage/pigment.

Burberry Lip Mist Sheer Lipstick ($30 each) are a Nordstrom exclusive.

Both photos are mine.

Burberry Sheer Luminous Foundation- Compact and Fluid

I bought these Burberry Sheer Luminous Foundation months before discovering Guerlain Lingerie de Peau. To be honest, had I already gotten my Guerlain I wouldn't have bothered or invested in Burberry, because I feel that between Lingerie de Peau, Le Metier de Beaute Peau Vierge tinted moisturizer, Edward Bess Satin Cream Compact and my Chanel foundations, Vitalumiere and Teint Innocent Compact (thankfully the compact was not discontinued with the regular Teing Innocence) I'm more than covered (pun sort-of intended). But I had a very pleasant experience at my local Nordstrom and liked the end result very much, so Burberry foundations- the fluid in 5 and compact in 7- went home with me.

Matching was not an easy task, hence ending up with both. The makeup artist and I were new to each other which meant the usual trial and error to get the right shade. It happens every time an artist who isn't familiar with my skin starts to work on my face and picks what seems to be a shade for medium olive skin tone. I need a sticker that says "face in the mirror is lighter than it seems", because medium shades more often than not are too dark and too yellow for me (of course, the first couple of light shades are way too pale and often too pink), so there's a need to go at least one level down. The makeup artist was quite certain I would be a 7, but ended up using the fluid 5 on most of my face and blending it with 7 for certain areas, especially where more coverage is needed.

Both formulas have a beautiful silky texture. Burberry Sheer Luminous Fluid is on par with Chanel Vitalumiere (the classic, not Aqua which I haven't tried). It's a little more yellow than Cameo, my regular shade, but far less so than Beige which I used to wear in tanner days (looks utterly ridiculous on me since I've gotten rid of all traces of sun exposure). The cream in the compact is lovely and far less dry than I expected from a cream-to-powder formula. I only use very little of it for some color correcting, so I expect the compact to last me until the end of days. since I blend both the exact shade and coverage can be adjust and built. This morning I had to add some Peau Vierge and a liquid highlighter because I woke up extra pale and something looked too yellow. Other days everything is perfect.

Like all Burberry beauty products, the packaging of both foundations is heavy and luxurious. Burberry check pattern is on the compact, bottle cap and the velveteen pouch. I keep all my makeup in drawers, but this is something I would have loved to display. The modern style is very attractive.

Bottom Line: Not as perfect as Guerlain, but worth trying if you're on a foundation quest.

Burberry Sheer Luminous Foundation Fluid ($52) and Compact ($55) is a Nordstrom exclusive- online and in select locations.

All photos are mine.

Burberry Lip Gloss Heather Rose (no. 11)

Burberry Lip Glow lip gloss in Heather Rose (#11) has been my secret weapon lately. It's great on its own, with or without a grounding layer of lip liner underneath, especially for quick and natural looks, but it also adds a lot of dimension to many a lipstick. Heather Rose is a warm beiged-out rose, a bit hard to describe as it changes with the light. Since my lips are darker and have quite a bit of purple pigment, this Burberry gloss is one of my favorite and most flattering nude colors. It would look different if your lips are pale, of course, but I think anyone who can wear delicate warm colors would be able to pull it off.

Like all Burberry lip glosses (and other makeup items, really), the quality here is top notch. The gloss has a light and comfortable texture, it moisturizes and sooths, isn't too sticky and stays in place as well as one can expect from a top of the line lip gloss. I touch up after three hours (or a snack) to maintain the finish, less so if it tops a highly pigmented lipstick.

Burberry Lip Glow lip gloss ($27) is a Nordstrom exclusive, available online and from select locations.

All photos are mine.

Burberry at London Fashion Week

Burberry’s show took place in a huge tent in Kensington Gardens yesterday. All the brand’s poster boys and girls were out to show their support  pre and post event. Our invitation must have got lost in the post!

February poster boy Sacha M'baye

Jourdan Dunn opened and closed the show – her star certainly is rising! We love everything about the show and want it all!

Jourdan Dunn opening the show

Jourdan closing the show

Burberry Antique Rose Sheer Eye Shadow (no. 10)

I bought Antique Rose (no. 10) after the wonderful SA/makeup artist showed me how to work it into looks with other Burberry eye shadows I already had and with Rosewood which I bought that day. I was worried it would be too pink or purple and give me a bruised look, but as you can see in the swatch, it's actually a very skin-friendly shade. Antique Rose is more mauve than pink and pulls brown when applied to the skin.

Regular readers already know how much I love the texture, pigment and the way Burberry eye shadows wear, blend and last (always over a primer/eye base). The pigment level is excellent and can be either sheered or built up, according to need and taste. The satin finish always looks polished and makes it easy to create a million dollar look with minimum effort. Burberry makeup is one of those lines you simply can't go wrong when using it. Add to that the sleek packaging and you get one of those luxury items that feel like a wonderful treat whenever you pull them out of your makeup bag.

Bottom Line: top notch.

Burberry Sheer Eye Shadows ($29 each) are a Nordstrom exclusive, available online and in select locations.

All photos are mine.

Jourdan Dunn for Burberry

We know this ad is all over the blogosphere but we’re going to post it just the same!

Jourdan Dunn and up and coming male model Sacha M’baye (shot by Mario Testino on Brighton beach) are the faces of Burberry’s campaign for February.

Burberry explains: ‘We wanted to create a dynamic, evolving campaign that reflects the diversity of our broad global consumer, revealing new British cast members each month, all with their own identity, embodying the different attitudes of the Burberry guy and girl.’

We like!

Burberry Lipstick In Claret (16)

My current favorite daytime sort-of-red lipstick is Burberry Soft Satin no.16, Claret. It's a red-based pink (or a pink-based red, take your pick) that looks healthy, shiny and makes my winter face perk up. You can see in the swatch how applying two coats makes the color bolder and a bit more dramatic, but it's not really necessary- one coat is  pigmented enough for most needs. My lips are naturally dark so on my face Claret pulls a little more burgundy than on my arm. I would say it's a universal color that would flatter most. One of my readers, Betty, who found Prune too goth for her face says Claret is perfect and I agree. It's very easy to wear.

Like all Burberry lipsticks, Claret has a beautiful satin finish- not too shiny, just full of life. The texture is soft, comfortable and kind to the lips even in this parching weather (and overheating). I get about four hours of wear without touchups (including water breaks) and there's some color left as a stain after that. Then, of course, there's the sleek packaging that makes reapplying fun (and easy to locate in a purse or makeup bag. Burberry square metallic cases have a distinct feel).

Bottom Line: Perfect, indeed.

Burberry Soft Satin Lipstick ($30) is a Nordstrom exclusive. Available online and in select locations.

All photos are mine.

Burberry Rosewood 09 Sheer Eye Shadow

I was looking to add a few colors to my small Burberry eye shadow collection. The SA at my local Nordstrom had the right idea- she first asked about the colors I already have and continued from there, showing me how the  color she suggested work with them.

Rosewood 09 was one suggestion. I previously avoided it, thinking it would be too pink (hence rabbit eyes). Upon application, though, it was a perfect neutral and created one of my favorite almost naked looks together with Burberry Porcelain 03 and Antique Rose 10 (photos and review of the latter coming soon). She also showed me a lighter variation mixing in some Pearl White 01.

Burberry Rosewood 09 is a little hard to describe (isn't it always the case with the best shades?). It's a rosy mauve brownish sneaky thing, surprisingly close to the natural color of my lid and crease, only nicer. Like all Burberry eye shadows I've tested so far, the texture is sublime- smooth like the most delicate fabric, has a delicate sheen/glow with no shiny particles, easy to apply and blend- it's everything one could want.

After playing and testing most of the Burberry Sheer Eye collection, it's safe to say that the best ones for olive skin and darker skin tones are the neutrals. I love looking at the various blue and purple ones, but despite my love for blue eye shadow, these are not the right ones for me. I suspect they'd be stunning on paler complexions.

Burberry Sheer Eye Shadows ($29) and the rest of the line are a Nordstrom exclusive. Available online and from select locations.

All photos are mine.

Burberry Pearl White (01) Sheer Eyeshadow

Since most of the country is covered in snow, this Burberry Sheer Eyeshadow in Pearl White (#01) looks very appropriate. But first, let's talk about white eye shadows in general. They're not something I'd recommend most of us wear on their own unless it's Halloween and you're going for a sparkling vampire. Still, as anyone working with paint knows- you must have white. It's an important basic item in a makeup collection and I use it often over other colors or mixed with them, usually for extra highlighting right under the brow.

I don't shop for white eye shadows often, so last summer when I used up the last shreds of an old Chanel one, I was ready for something new. Like Burberry new. I love the texture of their Sheer Eyeshadow- silky smooth, finely milled and glowy, which is very important when you're dealing with white. You don't want a chalky effect or anything that sits on your skin in an unflattering way. As you can see, Burberry 01 is, indeed, pearly white, it shows up well on my skin (so many white, beige or ecru shadows turn into translucent powder on my skin), and since the consistency is so fine and blendable, this is an ideal eye shadow to mix with others and lighten up darker shades without excess shimmer, sparkle or glitter.

Bottom Line: Exactly what I needed.

Burberry Sheer Eyeshadow ($29) is a Nordstrom exclusive, online and in select locations.

Photos by me.

Splurge or Save: Boots

With winter upon us, it’s time to think about boots. Not boots to be trudging through the snow (please let last month’s flurries be the last of it) but boots we can wear in the office, out on the town etc.

If you have the cash to splash, we heart these gorgeous leather mid calf biker boots priced at £695 from Burberry. Lined with shearling wool, they’re sure to keep your tootsies warm and with a 12.5cm heel they’re high enough to look good but not so high you fall over. Love them.

If you want to spend less, we also like these KG by Kurt Geiger ankle boots costing £190. With a comfy shearling lining and a platform heel, they are just as chic and have a sole more suitable to winter weather.

If you aren’t a fan of the fur, Miss Selfridge has these lovelies reduced from £70 to £35.

Burberry Sepia 03 Lip Gloss And Lip Liner

Burberry conveniently named both gloss and lip liner as Sepia (#03), which makes locating and matching in a hurry a lot easier when you're in a hurry. But this is not why they're so awesome- it's all about the textures and color. I've bought these two items back in August and have been constantly reaching for them, even when not wearing the Burberry lipsticks I got at the same time (though as you can see, they work beautifully together).

Sepia is a warm brown-based rose. The lip liner is a little more neutral than the gloss and is a great base color for lips: under lipstick or topped with the Sepia gloss. It's soft and glides smoothly but never bleeds into lines. I did find that some color tends to gather in the scar on my lower lip, but it's not really an issue- I don't use the pencil without something on top. The gloss is very pretty (and not just because of the sleek Burberry packaging) and keeps the promise of hydrating and glowing. It's comfortable, not sticky and has no shimmery particles. There's a faint powdery makeup scent that goes away within minutes and doesn't bother me.

Bottom Line: Who could ask for anything more?

Burberry Sepia 03 Lip Gloss and Lip Liner ($27 each) are a Nordstrom exclusive, online and in select locations.

All photos are mine.